Crossword Genius

Curved line is a disgrace (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slur

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a disgrace' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'curved line' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'line' could be 'l' (used when specifying particular lines from a poem) and 'l' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'sur' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'is' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for slur that I've seen before include "Slight - incoherence in speech" , "libel" , "Disparagement" , "Slight, insult" , "Pronounce indistinctly or cast abuse on reputation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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