Crossword Genius

Avoid weapons? Not half (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

miss

'avoid' is the definition.
(missing is a kind of avoiding)

'weapons? not half' is the wordplay.
'weapons?' becomes 'missiles' (missile is a kind of weapon).
'not half' suggests halving the letters.
'missiles' halved is 'MISS'.

(Other definitions for miss that I've seen before include "Fail to see or hit" , "Feel the loss of - schoolgirl" , "Teacher" , "Fail to meet - girl" , "Single girl" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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