Crossword Genius

Fur essential covering chest over (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

muskrat

'fur' is the definition.
(muskrat is a kind of fur)

'essential covering chest over' is the wordplay.
'essential' becomes 'must' ('must' can be similar in meaning to 'essential'**).
'covering' indicates putting letters inside.
'chest' becomes 'ark' (historical term for a chest).
'over' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'ark' back-to-front is 'kra'.
'must' placed around 'kra' is 'MUSKRAT'.

(Other definitions for muskrat that I've seen before include "Beaver-like rodent with glossy brown fur" , "Large aquatic rodent" , "Rodent valued for its fur" , "North American water rodent - ark must (anag)" , "Large, smelly North American rodent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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