Crossword Genius

Holding spear oddly, hinder renegade (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deserter

'renegade' is the definition.
('deserter' can be a synonym of 'renegade')

'holding spear oddly hinder' is the wordplay.
'holding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters.
'hinder' becomes 'deter' (I've seen this before).
The alternating letters of 'spear' are 'ser'.
'ser' put into 'deter' is 'DESERTER'.

(Other definitions for deserter that I've seen before include "Turncoat" , "military offender" , "Traitor" , "One illegally leaving armed forces" , "Military runaway" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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