Ice creams consumed by deaconess (5)

I believe the answer is:

cones

'ice creams' is the definition.
(ice cream cones)

'consumed by deaconess' is the wordplay.
'consumed by' says the answer is hidden in the clue (inserted letters get consumed).
'CONES' can be found hidden inside 'deaconess'.

(Other definitions for cones that I've seen before include "Round shapes with tapering sides" , "(Volcano) peaks" , "Ice-cream holders or fruits of pine trees" , "subject of a former hotline" , "Shapes of wafers for ice-cream" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.

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