Crossword Genius

Dull quality of poet backed by head (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

drabness

'dull quality' is the definition.
(being drab or dull)

'poet backed by head' is the wordplay.
'poet' becomes 'bard' (bard is a kind of poet).
'backed' is a reversal indicator.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland).
'bard' reversed gives 'drab'.
'drab'+'ness'='DRABNESS'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for drabness that I've seen before include "Dowdiness, dreariness" , "Dull quality" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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