Listen secretively to conversation of others skint from water-skiing (6)

I believe the answer is:

earwig

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'listen' is the definition.
(earwig can mean to listen to something)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for earwig that I've seen before include "It creeps and crawls" , "Clawed insect" , "Eavesdrop (informal)" , "It's a strange insect, I wager" , "Pincered insect" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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