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Abused Cockney ready to explode (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

armed

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'abused cockney' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are adjectives, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'ready to explode' is the wordplay.
'ready' becomes 'arm' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to explode' becomes 'ed' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'arm'+'ed'='ARMED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for armed that I've seen before include "Prepared and equipped for a confrontation" , "Carrying a gun" , "unlike the Venus of Milo" , "equipped for fighting" , "brachiate?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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