Crossword Genius

Sailor with coat, first man to reach surface (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tarmacadam

'surface' is the definition.
(tarmacadam is a kind of surface)

'sailor with coat first man' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'tar' (term for a sailor).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'coat' becomes 'mac' (mac is a kind of coat).
'first man' becomes 'adam' (first man in the Bible).
'tar'+'mac'+'adam'='TARMACADAM'

'to reach' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tarmacadam that I've seen before include "Road-surfacing material" , "could cover one's tracks" , "Road surface" , "Road surfacing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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