Crossword Genius

Dance and a drink to uplift a sailor (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rumba

'dance' is the definition.
(rumba is a type of dance)

'a drink to uplift a sailor' is the wordplay.
'a drink' becomes 'rum' (rum is a kind of drink).
'to uplift' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'a sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'ab' backwards is 'ba'.
'rum'+'ba'='RUMBA'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rumba that I've seen before include "Style of dance" , "Strictly round" , "Burma (anag)" , "Rhythmic dance of Cuban origin" , "Ballroom dance of Cuban origin" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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