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Almost all volunteers initially covered by so many shots (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

salvo

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'many shots' is the definition.
'salvo' can be an answer for 'shots' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the 'many' bit.

'almost all volunteers initially covered by so' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'covered by' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
The initial letter of 'volunteers' is 'v'.
'all' with its final letter taken away is 'al'.
'al'+'v'='alv'
'alv' going into 'so' is 'SALVO'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for salvo that I've seen before include "Barrage" , "A volley of shots, perhaps as salute" , "Sudden round of applause" , "Simultaneous discharge of guns" , "Aussie evangelist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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