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Scottish VIPs retreat with odd bits of dust (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lairds

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'scottish vips' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'retreat with odd bits of dust' is the wordplay.
'retreat' becomes 'lair' (both can mean a private hideout).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'odd bits of' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternate letters of 'dust' are 'ds'.
'lair'+'ds'='LAIRDS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lairds that I've seen before include "Members of northern gentry" , "Important northerners" , "Scots landowners" , "Scottish landowners (6)" , "Men of property" .)

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