Crossword Genius

On paper, perhaps, nautical-style progress (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

roll

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'progress' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for roll that I've seen before include "Bakery product" , "Drumming pattern" , "directory" , "on which one is regularly successful" , "Swell" .)

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