A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

TAR

Wed, 25 Jun '25
Besmirch
Fri, 20 Jun '25
Natural pitch
Tue, 22 Apr '25
Blacktop material
Sat, 19 Apr '25
Waterproofing substance
Fri, 18 Apr '25
Roofing supply
Mon, 31 Mar '25
Paving gunk
Wed, 26 Mar '25
Road repair goo
Wed, 12 Mar '25
Sticky stuff
Sun, 8 Dec '24
Salt
Sun, 12 May '24
Waterproofing material
Wed, 1 May '24
Roofing material
Tue, 13 Feb '24
Road surface
Fri, 15 Dec '23
Damage the reputation of
Mon, 4 Dec '23
La Brea ___ Pits
Tue, 28 Nov '23
Road goo
Thu, 2 Nov '23
Smear
Sun, 22 Oct '23
Road workers' gloop
Thu, 24 Aug '23
Blacken
Sun, 23 Jul '23
Some roofing material
Sun, 9 Jul '23
Blacken
Thu, 15 Jun '23
Besmirch
Sun, 14 May '23
Pitch
Fri, 3 Mar '23
2022 Cate Blanchett drama
Thu, 23 Feb '23
Pitch
Fri, 17 Feb '23
Salt
Tue, 14 Feb '23
La Brea substance
Fri, 10 Feb '23
"___ Beach," acclaimed 1991 children's book set in Harlem
Tue, 31 Jan '23
La Brea substance
Fri, 23 Dec '22
Pine ___ (baseball player's grip enhancer)
Thu, 22 Dec '22
Dinosaur bone preserver
Mon, 5 Dec '22
Oily roofing material
Sun, 6 Nov '22
Byproduct of burning tobacco
Tue, 25 Oct '22
Road gunk … or, when doubled, tooth gunk
Wed, 19 Oct '22
Sailor, in slang
Mon, 26 Sep '22
La Brea ___ Pits (Los Angeles attraction)
Sun, 14 Aug '22
Asphalt component
Sun, 30 Jan '22
Road goo
Thu, 27 Jan '22
Gob
Sun, 2 Jan '22
Stuff in cigarettes, but not e-cigarettes
Sun, 10 Oct '21
Describe in a negative way
Wed, 8 Sep '21
Sticky stuff
Wed, 5 May '21
Besmirch
Tue, 9 Mar '21
Stuff in cigarettes
Tue, 2 Mar '21
Road goo
Mon, 18 Jan '21
Driveway material