Crossword Genius

Typical farmer or soldier boy (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

giles

'typical farmer' is the definition.
(Farmer Giles is a stereotypical name for a farmer)

'soldier boy' is the wordplay.
'soldier' becomes 'GI' (term for US soldier).
'boy' becomes 'les' (short for Leslie).
'gi'+'les'='GILES'

'or' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for giles that I've seen before include "Carl _____, newspaper cartoonist" , "Farmer --- of Ham (Tolkien)" , "Boy's name" , "-- Coren; -- Brandreth" , "Sir - Gilbert Scott, English architect" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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