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Revolutionary chum has fits of temper and flaps (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lappets

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'flaps' is the definition.
(I know this)

'revolutionary chum has fits of temper' is the wordplay.
'revolutionary' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (letters revolve around).
'chum' becomes 'pal' (both can mean a friend).
'has' says to put letters next to each other.
'fits of temper' becomes 'pets' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pal' back-to-front is 'lap'.
'lap'+'pets'='LAPPETS'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for lappets that I've seen is " These hang round".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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