Crossword Genius

Given protective covering, like some joints are? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cased

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'given protective covering like some joints are?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'given protective covering like some joints' is the wordplay.
'given protective' becomes 'cd' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'covering' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'some' indicates the central letters.
'joints' becomes 'knees' (knee is a kind of joint).
The central letter of 'knees' is 'e'.
'as'+'e'='ase'
'cd' enclosing 'ase' is 'CASED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cased that I've seen before include "put in a box" , "examined with intention to rob" , "Reconnoitred (sl.)" , "Covered, protected; checked over (by robber)" , "Carefully inspected (for crime)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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