“Word before deck or hand” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.UPPER is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Word before deck or hand”. It was last seen in the puzzle of January 14, 2025, where it runs at 6 Down and fills 5 squares. It crosses 5 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have. This exact clue has run 2 times in NYT puzzles, first on January 14, 2025.