Revolting skinned birds before large feline (9)

I believe the answer is:

rebellion

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'revolting' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'skinned birds before large feline' is the wordplay.
'skinned birds before' becomes 'rebe' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'large' becomes 'L' (eg in clothes sizes).
'feline' becomes 'lion' (lion is a kind of feline).
'rebe'+'l'+'lion'='REBELLION'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rebellion that I've seen before include "Insurrection, revolt" , "Boxers' movement" , "Revolting" , "Rising" , "Coup d'tat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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