Crossword Genius

Dark-haired animal getting outside trap (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

brunette

'dark-haired' is the definition.
('brunette' can be similar in meaning to 'dark-haired')

'animal getting outside trap' is the wordplay.
'animal' becomes 'brute' ('brute' can be a synonym of 'animal'**).
'getting outside' indicates putting letters inside.
'trap' becomes 'net' (net is a kind of trap).
'brute' placed around 'net' is 'BRUNETTE'.

(Other definitions for brunette that I've seen before include "Hair colour" , "Brown-haired" , "woman with brown hair" , "Kind of dark girl" , "girl unlike Goldilocks?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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