Figure salvo didn’t start in confusion (4)

I believe the answer is:

oval

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'figure' is the definition.
(oval is a kind of figure)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for oval that I've seen before include "sports ground" , "Ellipse" , "Egg-shaped - cricket ground" , "Shaped like an egg" , "Where England regained the Ashes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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