Crossword Genius

Drink with actor after grand colourful spread (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gingham

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

'colourful spread' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'drink with actor after grand' is the wordplay.
'drink' becomes 'gin' (gin is a kind of drink**).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'actor' becomes 'ham' (ham is a kind of actor).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'grand' becomes 'g' ('G' can be a synonym of 'grand').
'ham' put after 'g' is 'gham'.
'gin' put next to 'gham' is 'GINGHAM'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gingham that I've seen before include "Lightweight cotton fabric" , "Striped, or checked, cotton fabric" , "Lightweight cotton cloth" , "Striped or checked cotton cloth" , "Cotton cloth woven with coloured checks" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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