Crossword Genius

Has a go at covering up type of sleep produced by old Roman crafty types (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

triremes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'roman crafty types' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
I also know that 'roman' relates to this answer.

'has a go at covering up type of sleep produced by old' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'sleep' could be 'rem' (abbreviation for Rapid Eye Movement) and 'rem' is found in the answer.
'has' could be 'tries' (trying is a kind of having) and 'tries' is located in the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for triremes that I've seen before include "They had three banks" , "Galleys" , "boats" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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