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Gather it may have been hard pressed (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pleat

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This could be a double definition.

'gather' is the first definition.
(to gather or fold into pleats)

'it may have been hard pressed' is the second definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pleat that I've seen before include "work on skirt?" , "Crease" , "Fold sewn or pressed into cloth" , "Fold in a skirt" , "Fold in material" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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