Crossword Genius

Deviously obtained fish in war department (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wangled

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'deviously obtained' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'fish in war department' is the wordplay.
'fish' becomes 'angle' (angle can mean to fish).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'war department' becomes 'wd' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'angle' going into 'wd' is 'WANGLED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for wangled that I've seen is " Manipulated".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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