Crossword Genius

One likes to drag small donkey over river (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smoker

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'one likes to drag' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'small donkey over river' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'donkey' becomes 'moke' (moke can informally mean a donkey).
'over' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go over others).
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
's'+'moke'+'r'='SMOKER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for smoker that I've seen before include "one cures" , "part of train once" , "Tobacco user" , "Puffer" , "User of cigarettes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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