Crossword Genius

Lusty Romeo set off, losing head close to balcony (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

raunchy

'lusty romeo set off losing head close to balcony' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'lusty romeo set off losing head close to balcony' is the wordplay.
'lusty romeo' becomes 'r' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.. I am not sure about the 'lusty' bit.).
'set off' becomes 'launch'.
'losing head' means to remove the first letter.
'close to' suggests the final letters (the close/ending of).
The last letter of 'balcony' is 'y'.
'launch' with its initial letter taken off is 'aunch'.
'r'+'aunch'+'y'='RAUNCHY'

(Other definitions for raunchy that I've seen before include "Steamy (book)" , "Lewd" , "Salacious" , "Steamy, exciting" , "Overtly sexual" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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