Crossword Genius

Hoskins must wear contraceptive covering, being hot stuff! (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

capsicum

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

'hoskins must wear contraceptive covering being hot stuff' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'hoskins must wear contraceptive covering being hot stuff' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'wear' could be 'cap' (cap is a kind of wear) and 'cap' is located in the answer.
'stuff' could be 'cu' (Cu is an example) and 'cu' is found within the answer.
'hoskins' could be 'im' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'im' is present in the remaining letters.
A single letter 's' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for capsicum that I've seen before include "American pepper" , "seeds" , "hot stuff perhaps" , "vegetable?" , "Pepper fruit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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