Crossword Genius

Mischievous Austrians shun US ruler's wife (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tsarina

'ruler's wife' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'mischievous austrians shun us' is the wordplay.
'mischievous' indicates an anagram.
'shun' is a deletion indicator.
'austrians' with 'us' taken away is 'atrians'.
'atrians' anagrammed gives 'TSARINA'.

(Other definitions for tsarina that I've seen before include "queen" , "Nicholas's wife" , "titled lady" , "Wife of former Russian ruler" , "Wife of royal Russian" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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