Scout's work, informally

RECON

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue **\"Scout's work, informally\"** with the answer **\"RECON\"**:\n\n*\"Military term for gathering intel, often shortened in conversation.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- Nudges the solver toward the military/scouting context.\n- Suggests an abbreviation or informal term.\n- Avoids repeating the original clue or giving away the answer directly."]

The clue **"Scout's work, informally"** leads to the answer **"RECON"** through the following breakdown: 1. **Definition**: "Scout's work" refers to the task of gathering information, often in a military or exploratory context. The word "recon" is short for **"reconnaissance,"** which means the act of surveying or scouting an area to obtain information. 2. **Informal Language**: The clue specifies "informally," indicating that the answer is a casual or abbreviated form of the full word. "Recon" is a well-known informal shortening of "reconnaissance." 3. **Wordplay**: There is no complex wordplay here—just a straightforward abbreviation. The clue relies on the solver recognizing the informal term for scouting work. Thus, the answer **"RECON"** fits perfectly as the informal term for a scout's reconnaissance work.