Crossword Genius

Inept cowboy finally going east (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gauche

'inept' is the definition.
(gauche means socially inept or awkward)

'cowboy finally going east' is the wordplay.
'cowboy' becomes 'gaucho' (term for a South American cowboy).
'finally going' means to remove the last letter (the final letter is removed).
'east' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'gaucho' with its last letter removed is 'gauch'.
'gauch'+'e'='GAUCHE'

(Other definitions for gauche that I've seen before include "not right for Parisian" , "Tactless - blundering" , "Awkward, inept" , "Graceless" , "Ill-at-ease, awkward in social situations" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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