Crossword Genius

End of joke by old king's companion is a gas! (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ethane

'gas' is the definition.
(ethane is a gas)

'end of joke by old king's companion' is the wordplay.
'end of' says to take the final letters.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'old king's companion' becomes 'thane' (historical title for someone given land by a king).
The final letter of 'joke' is 'e'.
'e'+'thane'='ETHANE'

'is a' is the link.

(Other definitions for ethane that I've seen before include "Chemical" , "Compound" , "Athene (anag.); a colourless gas" , "Flammable gas; eat hen (anagram)" , "Flammable hydrocarbon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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