Crossword Genius

Strict chief regularly makes donation (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tithe

'donation' is the definition.
(I know that tithe is a type of offering)

'strict chief regularly' is the wordplay.
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'strict'+'chief'='strictchief'
The alternate letters of 'strictchief' are 'TITHE'.

'makes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tithe that I've seen before include "10 per cent levy" , "Levy by church, e.g." , "One-tenth of income paid to church" , "Tenth of income given to church" , "Regular payments" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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