It was deviously waspish, perhaps (5)

I believe the answer is:

waist

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'it was deviously waspish perhaps' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'it was deviously' is the wordplay.
'deviously' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'it'+'was'='itwas'
'itwas' anagrammed gives 'WAIST'.

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(Other definitions for waist that I've seen before include "Spare tyre location?" , "Midriff" , "Band may go round here" , "Middle part of a ship" , "Between ribs and hips" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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