One watches son abandoning smoke (5)

I believe the answer is:

gaper

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'one watches son abandoning smoke' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'son abandoning smoke' is the wordplay.
'son' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son).
'abandoning' is a deletion indicator.
'smoke' becomes 'gasper' (slang term for a cigarette).
'gasper' with 's' removed is 'GAPER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gaper that I've seen before include "who yawns?" , "Fish; burrowing mollusc" , "one visibly amazed" , "Anglerfish" , "one staring in wonder" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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