Crossword Genius

Chaps accepting help first (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maiden

'first' is the definition.
(as in a maiden voyage)

'chaps accepting help' is the wordplay.
'chaps' becomes 'men' (chap means a man).
'accepting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are accepted).
'help' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'men' going around 'aid' is 'MAIDEN'.

(Other definitions for maiden that I've seen before include "Female" , "Single" , "First (speech)" , "Earliest - unmarried" , "over, you won't score" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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