Crossword Genius

Row involving disheartened tinker (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tier

'row' is the definition.
(a tier is a row of things)

'disheartened tinker' is the wordplay.
'disheartened' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'tinker' with its middle removed is 'TIER'.

'involving' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tier that I've seen before include "Person joining" , "Wedding cake layer" , "Row, layer" , "One making knot - level" , "Level within hierarchy" .)

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