Crossword Genius

It may be beaten as mud dries out (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

side drum

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'it may be beaten' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'mud dries out' is the wordplay.
'out' indicates an anagram (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'mud'+'dries'='muddries'
'muddries' is an anagram of 'SIDE-DRUM'.

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for side drum that I've seen before include "one's soundly beaten" , "One's struck by player" , "Instrument in the kitchen" , "Percussion instrument" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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