Crossword Genius

Clan member carries first of trophies across busy road (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

totemist

'clan member' is the definition.
(member of a clan with a shared totem)

'carries first of trophies across busy road' is the wordplay.
'carries' becomes 'totes' (toting is a kind of carrying).
'first of trophies' becomes 't' (1st letter of 'trophies').
'across' is an insertion indicator.
'busy road' becomes 'MI' (resembles M1, English motorway).
'totes'+'t'='totest'
'totest' placed around 'mi' is 'TOTEMIST'.

(Other definitions for totemist that I've seen before include "venerated individual" , "North American Indian who worships" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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