Crossword Genius

For a motel, a strange colour (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oatmeal

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'strange colour' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'for a motel a' is the wordplay.
'a motel a' can be anagrammed to 'OATMEAL'.
However, I am not clear how the anagram is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for oatmeal that I've seen before include "The material for porridge" , "Pale variegated brown colour" , "The stuff porridge is made from" , "Porridge constituent" , "Basis of porridge" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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