Crossword Genius

Country boy round the north (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

land

'country' is the definition.
(I know that country can be written as land)

'boy round the north' is the wordplay.
'boy' becomes 'lad' (informal term for boy).
'round' indicates putting letters inside.
'the north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'lad' placed around 'n' is 'LAND'.

(Other definitions for land that I've seen before include "Property" , "Come down; territory" , "soil" , "Ground; country" , "Secure" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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