Crossword Genius

Sign over pieces (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

omen

'sign' is the definition.
(omen is a kind of sign)

'over pieces' is the wordplay.
'over' becomes 'o' (cricket abbreviation).
'pieces' becomes 'men' (e.g. in chess).
'o'+'men'='OMEN'

(Other definitions for omen that I've seen before include "Augur" , "Harbinger, augury" , "Forecast" , "Augury, portent" , "Harbinger, portent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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