Crossword Genius

Landowner makes den on top of Dartmoor (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

laird

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

'den on top of dartmoor' is the wordplay.
'den' becomes 'lair' (synonyms).
'on top of' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'dartmoor' is 'd'.
'lair'+'d'='LAIRD'

'makes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for laird that I've seen before include "Proprietor" , "Scot. landowner" , "Man owning land" , "Scots landowner" , "Estate landowner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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