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2d. A nine-month period, then another six, as primate? (3-3)

A * E * * E

Aye aye.

thank you mrs g.
can you please explain the "as primate?" bit.
It's late in the evening here....that's my excuse...

Aux 1

It's a coincidence I had an AY in an answer the other day and The Joker pointed out to me that AYE means always. I'd thought of it as AYE meaning YES. But I don't get this one.

But my shorter Oxford tells me that an "aye aye" is a lemur like creature found in Madagascar.

Phew! Now I can go to bed.

Aux1

Yes, an aye-aye is a lemur, and a lemur is a primate.

Just to complete the explanation:the military "Ay,ay,sir!"is spelt without an "e" except in the plural form (the ayes have it!)and is of unknown origin,whereas "Aye"(=always) is of Greek/Latin origin and is always written with an "e".That's what comes from a childhood fascination with words & then studying Classics!

am i wrong or is the wordplay,
A - a
nine-month period(3/4 of year) - Yea
then another six((month period)half of a year) - Ye
as primate?(A Yea Ye) - Aye Aye.??

I don't think so, kite. "Aye, Aye, sir", used in the Navy, is normally spelt with an e. So is the "Aye" used in the House of Commons for "Yes" votes. "Ay", a variant spelling of "Aye" also exists, as pointed out to me recently by The Joker.