Crossword Genius

Christmas -- without the Spanish? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

noel

'christmas' is the definition.
(Noel can mean Christmas)

'without the spanish?' is the wordplay.
'without' becomes 'no'.
'the spanish?' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'no'+'el'='NOEL'

(Other definitions for noel that I've seen before include "Yuletide" , "Christmas; man's name" , "Sir - - Coward" , "Coward for one" , "- - Coward, playwright" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Telegraph.
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