Crossword Genius

Landowner in den with duke (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

laird

'landowner' is the definition.
(Scottish term for a landowner)

'den with duke' is the wordplay.
'den' becomes 'lair' ('lair' can be a synonym of 'den').
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'duke' becomes 'd'.
'lair'+'d'='LAIRD'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for laird that I've seen before include "Scottish estate-owner" , "Big landowner" , "Proprietor" , "Scot. landowner" , "Estate landowner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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