Crossword Genius

Court date leading to deal, maybe (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wood

'to deal maybe' is the definition.
(deal can mean wood as a building material)

'court date leading' is the wordplay.
'court' becomes 'woo' (both can mean to romance someone).
'leading' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'date' is 'd'.
'woo'+'d'='WOOD'

(Other definitions for wood that I've seen before include "Cooing bird" , "Old conductor" , "Kind of musical instrument" , "Copse" , "Trees; club" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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