Crossword Genius

Spaces in the ladies, no end healthy (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wholesome

'healthy' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'spaces in the ladies no end' is the wordplay.
'spaces' becomes 'holes' (hole is a kind of space).
'in the' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'ladies' becomes 'women' (I've seen this before).
'no end' means to remove the last letter.
'women' with its last letter taken away is 'wome'.
'holes' inserted into 'wome' is 'WHOLESOME'.

(Other definitions for wholesome that I've seen before include "Previously propitious" , "Respectable" , "Moral" , "Good for you!" , "Healthy in body, taste or morals" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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