Obliquely request an empty carriage (7)

I believe the answer is:

askance

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

'request an empty carriage' is the wordplay.
'request' becomes 'ask' (synonyms).
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'carriage' with its centre removed is 'ce'.
'ask'+'an'+'ce'='ASKANCE'

(Other definitions for askance that I've seen before include "Obliquely, quizzically" , "(Consider) with suspicion - sideways" , "Distrustfully" , "Indirectly" , "Look thus to convey disapproval or distrust" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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