Crossword Genius

Aristocrat bags very soft pelt (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pepper

'pelt' is the definition.
(I know that pelt can be written as pepper)

'aristocrat bags very soft' is the wordplay.
'aristocrat' becomes 'peer' (peer is a kind of aristocrat).
'bags' means one lot of letters goes inside another (bag can mean secures or steals).
'very soft' becomes 'pp' (musical abbreviation for pianissimo).
'peer' placed around 'pp' is 'PEPPER'.

(Other definitions for pepper that I've seen before include "... which can make one sneeze ..." , "Sprinkle - condiment" , "Hot-tasting spice" , "Pungent seasoning and vegetable" , "shower" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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