Crossword Genius

Maybe Heather in small hotel gets massage (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shrub

'maybe heather' is the definition.
(I know that Calluna vulgaris is a type of heath)

'small hotel gets massage' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'gets' says to put letters next to each other.
'massage' becomes 'rub' (rub can mean to massage).
's'+'h'+'rub'='SHRUB'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for shrub that I've seen before include "Mixed drink of rum, sugar, fruit-juice and spice" , "Hazel perhaps" , "Myrtle or Rosemary, say" , "Brush? (anagr.)" , "Woody plant smaller than a tree" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app