Crossword Genius

Old kingdom right to imprison English female in fur? (3-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

she-bear

'female in fur?' is the definition.
(bears have fur)

'old kingdom right to imprison english' is the wordplay.
'old kingdom' becomes 'sheba' (as in the Queen of Sheba).
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'to imprison' is an insertion indicator.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'sheba'+'r'='shebar'
'shebar' placed around 'e' is 'SHE-BEAR'.

(Another definition for she-bear that I've seen is " This female more deadly than the male (Kipling)".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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