Crossword Genius

Old British chief to write and be prolix? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pendragon

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'old british chief' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'write and be prolix?' is the wordplay.
'write' becomes 'pen' (synonyms).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'be prolix?' becomes 'dragon' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'pen'+'dragon'='PENDRAGON'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pendragon that I've seen before include "Ruler" , "King Arthur, for example" , "Uther --" , "Tribal chief," , "old British chief" .)

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