Crime bosses on the outskirts of Dorset Downs (4)
I believe the answer is:
dons
'crime bosses' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'on the outskirts of dorset downs' is the wordplay.
'the outskirts of dorset' becomes 'ds' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'downs' means one lot of letters goes inside another (down can mean to swallow).
'on' going inside 'ds' is 'DONS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dons that I've seen before include "Academics" , "Puts on -- lecturers" , "British university teachers and Spanish noblemen" , "Assumes" , "University teachers - Mafia bosses" .)