Crossword Genius

Gutted sergeant prepared to be stripped of hat and uniform (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

steady

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'uniform' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'gutted sergeant prepared to be stripped of hat' is the wordplay.
'gutted' suggests removing the centre (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'prepared' becomes 'set' (set up or ready).
'to be stripped' says to take the centre (outside letters removed).
'of hat' becomes 'ady' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'sergeant' with its centre taken out is 'st'.
The central letter of 'set' is 'e'.
'st'+'e'+'ady'='STEADY'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for steady that I've seen before include "date seen regularly" , "On an even keel" , "Not liable to fluctuations" , "Firm - sweetheart" , "Sensible, reliable" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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