Crossword Genius

Column ending in landing stage (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pilaster

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'column' is the definition.
(pilaster is a kind of column)

'ending in landing stage' is the wordplay.
'ending' becomes 'last' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'landing stage' becomes 'pier' (I've seen this before).
'last' put inside 'pier' is 'PILASTER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pilaster that I've seen before include "Decorative column standing out from the fa?ade of a building" , "Rectangular column projected from wall" , "Rectangular column support projecting slightly from a wall" , "Square column" , "Piles tar into a form of column" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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