Bounder left opera before the end (5)

I believe the answer is:

loper

'bounder' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'left opera before the end' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'before the end' means to remove the last letter (all letters before the one at the end).
'opera' with its final letter taken off is 'oper'.
'l'+'oper'='LOPER'

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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