Crossword Genius

Rod ends lip service (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spindle

'rod' is the definition.
(I know that spindle is a type of shaft)

'ends lip service' is the wordplay.
'service' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'serviced' mean this (to service can mean to repair)).
'ends'+'lip'='endslip'
'endslip' with letters rearranged gives 'SPINDLE'.

(Other definitions for spindle that I've seen before include "Stick or pin used to twist yarn in spinning" , "Rod serving as an axis of rotation" , "Pin bearing a bobbin" , "Axle rod" , "Rod used in spinning" .)

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