Crossword Genius

Hide second family (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

skin

'hide' is the definition.
(a hide is an animal skin)

'second family' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'family' becomes 'kin' (synonyms).
's'+'kin'='SKIN'

(Other definitions for skin that I've seen before include "Swindle" , "Outer surface" , "Surface layer" , "Fell" , "Outer layer of tissue" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Mirror.
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