Crossword Genius

Books (hardback) in shopping centre store for a long time

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mothball

'store for a long time' is the definition.

'books hardback in shopping centre' is the wordplay.
'books' becomes 'ot' (Old Testament).
'hardback' becomes 'hb'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'shopping centre' becomes 'mall' (I've seen this before).
'ot'+'hb'='othb'
'othb' placed into 'mall' is 'MOTHBALL'.

(Other definitions for mothball that I've seen before include "Naphthalene or camphor sphere" , "Lay aside indefinitely" , "Postpone work" , "put on back burner" , "Put on ice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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