Crossword Genius

Cuts loose from the tail! (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scut

'the tail' is the definition.
(scut is a kind of tail)

'cuts loose' is the wordplay.
'loose' indicates anagramming the letters (letters are loosened from their original positions).
'cuts' anagrammed gives 'SCUT'.

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for scut that I've seen before include "Short tail of hare" , "(Hare's) short upright tail" , "Reindeer tail" , "Small tail as of rabbit" , "Cuts into a small tail" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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