Crossword Genius

Better shears cutting coat of ewe (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eclipse

'better' is the definition.

'shears cutting coat of ewe' is the wordplay.
'shears' becomes 'clips'.
'cutting' is an insertion indicator (some letters cut their way into a word).
'coat of' suggests removing the centre.
'ewe' with its centre removed is 'ee'.
'clips' inserted into 'ee' is 'ECLIPSE'.

(Other definitions for eclipse that I've seen before include "Astronomical event" , "dark?" , "Obscure light from (other celestial body)" , "concealment" , "The blotting out of a heavenly body" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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