Crossword Genius

Battle to get space at bar (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

encounter

'battle' is the definition.
(I know that encounter is a type of combat)

'space at bar' is the wordplay.
'space' becomes 'en' (in printing, a space as wide as a letter 'n').
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'bar' becomes 'counter' (I've seen this before).
'en'+'counter'='ENCOUNTER'

'to get' is the link.

(Other definitions for encounter that I've seen before include "Run into - combat" , "Face" , "Meet unexpectedly" , "tackle" , "Come accross, meet (9)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app