Crossword Genius

Pale ales finally necked by a Scottish woman (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ashen

'pale' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'ales finally necked by a scottish woman' is the wordplay.
'finally' says to take the final letters.
'necked by' is an insertion indicator (neck can mean to swallow or eat).
'scottish woman' becomes 'hen' (Scottish term for a girl or woman).
The last letter of 'ales' is 's'.
'a'+'hen'='ahen'
's' put into 'ahen' is 'ASHEN'.

(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "Deathly pale" , "of Tree" , "Livid" , "Visibly shocked" , "White-faced" .)

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