Crossword Genius

Bony eel takes cooking (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

skeletal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'bony' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'eel takes cooking' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'eel' is 'ele' which is within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for skeletal that I've seen before include "Pulchritude" , "Bony, gaunt" , "Comprising just the bare bones" , "Like a framework of lakelets" , "Dreadfully thin" .)

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