Crossword Genius

Rough leather: can it match calfskin, ultimately? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shagreen

'rough leather' is the definition.
(type of leather with a rough surface)

'can it match calfskin ultimately?' is the wordplay.
'can it' becomes 'sh' ('can it' can mean stop talking or be quiet).
'match' becomes 'agree' (agreeing is a kind of matching).
'ultimately?' suggests the final letters (I've seen 'ultimately' mean this).
The final letter of 'calfskin' is 'n'.
'sh'+'agree'+'n'='SHAGREEN'

(Other definitions for shagreen that I've seen before include "Sharkskin - he ranges (anag)" , "Sharkskin used as a decorative material" , "Nags here (anag.)" , "rough skin" , "Coarse leather, often dyed green" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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