Crossword Genius

Firm hands maintaining a pale colour (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coral

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'pale colour' is the definition.
'coral' can be an answer for 'colour' (coral is a kind of colour). I'm not certain of the 'pale' bit.

'firm hands maintaining a' is the wordplay.
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'hands' becomes 'RL' (abbreviations for left and right).
'maintaining' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or maintained).
'rl' going around 'a' is 'ral'.
'co'+'ral'='CORAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for coral that I've seen before include "rock, perhaps" , "It seems like rock" , "Tiny animal forming reef" , "Pink - lobster roe" , "Tone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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