Crossword Genius

Good wood flanks new grate (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gnash

'grate' is the definition.
(gnashing is a kind of grating)

'good wood flanks new' is the wordplay.
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'wood' becomes 'ash' (ash is a kind of wood).
'flanks' means one lot of letters goes inside another (flank can mean to go on either side of).
'new' becomes 'n'.
'g'+'ash'='gash'
'gash' enclosing 'n' is 'GNASH'.

(Other definitions for gnash that I've seen before include "Hangs (anag.)" , "Grind away" , "Grind (teeth) together" , "champ" , "Grind one's teeth" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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