Crossword Genius

Puritan holding shit stick out (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

protrude

'stick out' is the definition.
('protrude' can be a synonym of 'stick out')

'puritan holding shit' is the wordplay.
'puritan' becomes 'prude' ('prude' can be a synonym of 'puritan').
'holding' is an insertion indicator.
'shit' becomes 'rot' ('rot' can be a synonym of 'shit').
'prude' placed around 'rot' is 'PROTRUDE'.

(Other definitions for protrude that I've seen before include "Bulge" , "Stand out" , "Stick outwards" , "Come out" , "Stick out, project from a surface" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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