Crossword Genius

Social rank of clone he reproduced (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

echelon

'social rank' is the definition.
(I know that echelon is a type of social rank)

'clone he reproduced' is the wordplay.
'reproduced' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'reproduce' mean this).
'clone'+'he'='clonehe'
'clonehe' anagrammed gives 'ECHELON'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for echelon that I've seen before include "Body of troops arranged in a line" , "position in society" , "Military row formation" , "Offset-lines formation" , "Bishops, say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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