Crossword Genius

Garden confines male prisoner (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hostage

'prisoner' is the definition.
(hostage is a kind of prisoner)

'garden confines male' is the wordplay.
'garden' becomes 'hoe' (to garden could mean to hoe).
'confines' indicates putting letters inside.
'male' becomes 'stag' (a stag is a male deer).
'hoe' enclosing 'stag' is 'HOSTAGE'.

(Other definitions for hostage that I've seen before include "Person held by kidnapper for ransom" , "person captive to fortune" , "Person taken as security" , "She-goat (anag)" , "Prisoner kept as security" .)

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