Crossword Genius

Fruit in part damaged, one firm to cut (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apricot

'fruit' is the definition.
(type of fruit)

'part damaged one firm to cut' is the wordplay.
'damaged' indicates anagramming the letters.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'to cut' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters cut their way into a word).
'i'+'co'='ico'
'part' is an anagram of 'aprt'.
'aprt' placed around 'ico' is 'APRICOT'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for apricot that I've seen before include "Luscious fruit" , "Orange fruit" , "Soft, peach-like fruit" , "Orange-yellow colour; fruit" , "I part co with the fruit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app