Crossword Genius

Errand boy takes a monthly payment for family (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parentage

'family' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'errand boy takes a monthly payment' is the wordplay.
'errand boy' becomes 'page' (page is a kind of errand boy).
'takes' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'monthly payment' becomes 'rent' (rent is often paid monthly).
'a'+'rent'='arent'
'page' enclosing 'arent' is 'PARENTAGE'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for parentage that I've seen before include "Ancestry" , "Ancestors" , "Family origins" , "Who's your father (and mother)?" , "Extraction, descent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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