| 100% | BARBICAN | 8 | The outer defense of a castle or walled city |
| 52% | BAILEY | 6 | The outer wall of a castle, paired with a motte |
| 48% | RIM | 3 | The outer edge of a bottle or a basketball ring |
| 42% | REREDOS | 7 | Screen or wall decoration at the back of an altar in a church |
| 42% | BAILEY | 6 | Defensive wall around an outer court of a castle |
| 42% | CRENEL | 6 | Gap along the top of a castle wall |
| 40% | RIM | 3 | The outer edge of a glass |
| 40% | CUTICLE | 7 | The outer layer of a hair |
| 40% | DONJON | 6 | The great tower or innermost keep of a castle |
| 40% | DEAL | 4 | *Pass out the cards ... or a word made by changing one letter of 25a |
| 40% | ALCOVE | 6 | A recess in the wall of a room or garden |
| 39% | RIM | 3 | The outer edge of a tumbler's mouth |
| 39% | EGGSHELL | 8 | The outer covering of a popular breakfast food |
| 39% | CAPSULE | 7 | The outer shell of a pill, holding the ingredients |
| 39% | CRUST | 5 | Outer part of a quiche or tart |
| 39% | SAND | 4 | Makings of a castle at the beach |
| 39% | SANA | 4 | Walled city of the Mideast |
| 39% | CIVIC | 5 | Of a city or citizens |
| 39% | CIVIC | 5 | Of a city or town |
| 39% | PARAPET | 7 | A low protective wall around the top of a castle |
| 38% | ASTRAKHAN | 9 | City in Russia on the delta of the Volga River associated with a type of black or grey fur |
| 38% | PARAPET | 7 | Low protective wall on the edge of a castle's roof |
| 38% | KEEP | 4 | Main tower within the walls of a medieval castle |
| 38% | STMALO | 6 | Walled city on the coast of France |
| 37% | ASWAN | 5 | City on the Nile … or a punny end to the joke "When a tight-knit group of cygnets votes, they vote ___" |
| 37% | HOLE | 4 | Step 3 of making a birdhouse: Cut out a ___ in one of the walls to make place for entry |
| 37% | BACKORDERED | 11 | Like goods that are temporarily out of stock ... or a hint, alphabetically, to the answers to the starred clues |
| 37% | RIM | 3 | The outer edge of something, like a Basketball ___ |
| 37% | OBVERSE | 7 | The front side of a coin or medal |
| 37% | FOUNDER | 7 | The original creator of a company or institution |