Crossword Genius

English lad gathers new wood (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ebony

'wood' is the definition.
(ebony is a kind of wood)

'english lad gathers new' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'lad' becomes 'boy' (I've seen this before).
'gathers' indicates putting letters inside.
'new' becomes 'n'.
'boy' enclosing 'n' is 'bony'.
'e'+'bony'='EBONY'

(Other definitions for ebony that I've seen before include "Black hardwood" , "Hard wood used for black piano keys and in cabinetwork" , "Hard dark-coloured wood" , "Very dark brown" , "Material for key" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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