Crossword Genius

Go off with a gun, returning for timepiece (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

regulator

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'timepiece' is the definition.
(device for regulating a clock's speed)

'go off with a gun returning' is the wordplay.
'go off with' becomes 'rota' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'a gun' becomes 'luger' (type of pistol).
'returning' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'rota'+'luger'='rotaluger'
'rotaluger' reversed gives 'REGULATOR'.

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for regulator that I've seen before include "Ofsted perhaps" , "Such as OFGAS, OFTEL etc" , "Supervisor" , "Controller" , "part of the watch" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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