Crossword Genius

Majestic fairylike creature in Mali, possibly (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

imperial

'majestic' is the definition.
(I know that majestic can be written as imperial)

'fairylike creature in mali possibly' is the wordplay.
'fairylike creature' becomes 'peri' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'possibly' indicates an anagram.
'mali' anagrammed gives 'imal'.
'peri' put into 'imal' is 'IMPERIAL'.

(Other definitions for imperial that I've seen before include "Sovereign - beard - size of paper" , "Of UK weights and measures" , "Non-metric" , "Magnificent; mint --" , "Majestic - not metric" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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