Crossword Genius

A possible clue for when crude (9)

Ross

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

9

5-4

roughhewn

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'crude' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'a possible clue for when' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'when' is 'hewn' which is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'rough' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for roughhewn that I've seen before include "(Of wood or stone) not smoothly cut" , "Craggy; unrefined" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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