Crossword Genius

Make damp blokes withhold cockney's raise (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

moisten

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'make damp' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'blokes withhold cockney's raise' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cockney's raise' could be 'oist' ('hoist' - hoisting is a kind of raising - said with a cockney accent, dropping the 'H') and 'oist' is found in the answer.
'blokes' could be 'men' (bloke can informally mean a man) and 'men' is located in the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for moisten that I've seen before include "contrary to sixteen down [DEHYDRATE]!" , "What one's eyes may do!" , "water a bit" , "It's on me (anag)" , "Make damp or slightly wet" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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