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Mother and boy in the building trade (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mason

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'the building trade' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'mother and boy' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (Ma is another word for mother or mum).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'boy' becomes 'son' (synonyms).
'ma'+'son'='MASON'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mason that I've seen before include "figure in lodge" , "one wearing an apron" , "A worker in stone - may be free" , "Actor James" , "One going to work in building" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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