Crossword Genius

Squashes monarch, after foot scrubbed, into shoes (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pumpkins

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'squashes' is the definition.
(pumpkin is a kind of squash)

'monarch after foot scrubbed into shoes' is the wordplay.
'monarch' becomes 'k'.
'after foot scrubbed' becomes 'in' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'shoes' becomes 'pumps' (pump is a kind of shoe).
'k'+'in'='kin'
'kin' inserted within 'pumps' is 'PUMPKINS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pumpkins that I've seen before include "Examples of squash" , "Large pulpy orange fruits" , "Squashes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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