Crossword Genius

Pressurise baron to go without armour? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

blackmail

'pressurise' is the definition.

'baron to go without armour?' is the wordplay.
'baron' becomes 'b'.
'to go without' becomes 'lack'.
'armour?' becomes 'mail' (mail is a kind of armour**).
'b'+'lack'+'mail'='BLACKMAIL'

(Other definitions for blackmail that I've seen before include "Extort illegally" , "Put the screws on" , "Crime of demanding money by threat of exposure" , "Extort money by threats to divulge information" , "Money demanded under threat of revealing unpleasant facts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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