Crossword Genius

A device to get light by midnight at college (1,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

g clamp

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'a device to' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'light by midnight at college' is the wordplay.
'light' becomes 'lamp' (lamp is a kind of light).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'midnight' becomes 'g' (the middle letter in 'night').
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'college' becomes 'c'.
'g'+'c'='gc'
'lamp' put after 'gc' is 'G CLAMP'.

'get' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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