Crossword Genius

Impales small insects (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sticks

'impales' is the definition.
(stick can mean to impale or skewer)

'small insects' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'insects' becomes 'ticks' (I have seen 'Parasitic insects ' mean 'ticks' so perhaps 'insects' could also mean 'ticks').
's'+'ticks'='STICKS'

(Other definitions for sticks that I've seen before include "bits of wood" , "Glues" , "potentially breaking our bones?" , "Refuses to move" , "basic furniture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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