Crossword Genius

Fight back and screen untanned skin (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rawhide

'untanned skin' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'fight back and screen' is the wordplay.
'fight' becomes 'war' (warring is a kind of fighting).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'screen' becomes 'hide' (hide can mean to screen or cover up).
'war' in reverse letter order is 'raw'.
'raw'+'hide'='RAWHIDE'

(Other definitions for rawhide that I've seen before include "Whip" , "Untanned animal skin cut to make whips and ropes" , "Stiff untanned leather" , "Leather before tanning" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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