Crossword Genius

River-snakes provide filing tools (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rasps

'filing tools' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'river-snakes' is the wordplay.
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
'snakes' becomes 'asps' (asp is a kind of snake).
'r'+'asps'='RASPS'

'provide' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rasps that I've seen before include "Jars" , "speaks hoarsely" , "Grates harshly" , "fruit briefly" , "Coarse files" .)

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