Crossword Genius

State noble line (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

country

'state' is the definition.
(I know that state can be written as country)

'noble line' is the wordplay.
'noble' becomes 'count' (count is a type of aristocrat).
'line' becomes 'ry' (abbreviation for railway).
'count'+'ry'='COUNTRY'

(Other definitions for country that I've seen before include "Rural" , "land?" , "See 9" , "Nation" , "State; region" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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