Crossword Genius

Boys losing heart for women of refinement (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ladies

'women of refinement' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'boys losing heart' is the wordplay.
'boys' becomes 'laddies' (laddie is a kind of boy).
'losing heart' means to remove the middle letters.
'laddies' with its middle taken out is 'LADIES'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ladies that I've seen before include "9th" , "Public facility" , "...... and gentlemen" , "Convenience" , "Females" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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