Boatman's last to provide a new start to illuminate the dark (5)

I believe the answer is:

night

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'the dark' is the definition.
(it's dark at nighttime)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for night that I've seen before include "''Twas the ... before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse''" , "Saturday -- Fever (film)" , "late" , "Dark period" , "'Red sky at . . . . ., shepherd's delight'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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