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Strapping top of leg, that ice scattered around it (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

athletic

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'strapping' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'top of leg that ice scattered around it' is the wordplay.
'top of' suggests taking the first letters.
'scattered' is an anagram indicator.
'around it' is an insertion indicator.
The initial letter of 'leg' is 'l'.
'that'+'ice'='thatice'
'thatice' with letters rearranged gives 'athetic'.
'l' placed into 'athetic' is 'ATHLETIC'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for athletic that I've seen before include "Sporty, able-bodied" , "Good at running and jumping" , "Fit and sporty" , "Wigan, for example" , "Sporting, vigorous" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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