Crossword Genius

Mean hail storm (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

average

'mean' is the definition.
(I know that mean can be written as average)

'hail storm' is the wordplay.
'hail' becomes 'ave' (greeting in Latin).
'storm' becomes 'rage' (synonyms).
'ave'+'rage'='AVERAGE'

(Other definitions for average that I've seen before include "Mediocre, commonplace" , "just like any other" , "Fair to middling" , "Mean, so-so" , "'Medium, middling (7)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent and The Telegraph.
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