Crossword Genius

Starting to bellow a hot word of contempt (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bah

'word of contempt' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'starting to bellow a hot' is the wordplay.
'starting to' suggests taking the first letters.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
The first letter of 'bellow' is 'b'.
'b'+'a'+'h'='BAH'

(Other definitions for bah that I've seen before include "Exclamation of disgust or annoyance" , "Comic expression of contempt" , "Exclamation of contempt or disgust - Scrooge used to say it" , "''...! Humbug!'' (Scrooge)" , "Appalling!" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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