Monk back by some big Amish compound... (7)

I believe the answer is:

amalgam

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'compound' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'monk back by some big amish' is the wordplay.
'monk' becomes 'lama' (as in the Dalai Lama).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'by some big amish' becomes 'gam' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'lama' backwards is 'amal'.
'amal'+'gam'='AMALGAM'

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(Other definitions for amalgam that I've seen before include "Blend or combination" , "mercurial combination" , "Mercury alloy - combination" , "Ring-bearing hobbit" , "Combination of diverse elements" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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