Crossword Genius

Ring about pole being used as punishment (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

penal

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'as punishment' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'ring about pole being' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'peal' (pealing is a kind of ringing).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'pole being' becomes 'n' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'peal' enclosing 'n' is 'PENAL'.

'used' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for penal that I've seen before include "Punishing" , "Deliberately unpleasant" , "Very severe" , "Involving legal punishment" , "Punishable by law" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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