Crossword Genius

Staff whip smelly animal (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

polecat

'smelly animal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'staff whip' is the wordplay.
'staff' becomes 'pole' (both can mean a stick).
'whip' becomes 'cat' (cat o' nine tails, cat for short is a type of whip).
'pole'+'cat'='POLECAT'

(Other definitions for polecat that I've seen before include "Weasel-like mammal" , "Unpleasant-smelling woodland animal" , "Weasel-like creature" , "Malodorous carnivore" , "weaselly creature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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