Crossword Genius

Chap handin' out instrument (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mandolin

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

'instrument' is the definition.
(I know that Mandolin is a instrument)

'chap handin'' is the wordplay.
'chap' becomes 'man' (chap can mean a man).
'handin'' becomes 'dolin' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'man'+'dolin'='MANDOLIN'

'out' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mandolin that I've seen before include "Lute-like instrument" , "it has strings attached" , "Almond in the stringed instrument, oddly" , "one's deployed in the kitchen" , "Small guitar-like instrument" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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