Crossword Genius

Strip, having at last removed one's cloak (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dismantle

'strip' is the definition.
('dismantle' can be a synonym of 'strip')

'at last removed one's cloak' is the wordplay.
'at last' indicates one should take the final letters.
'one's' becomes 'is' (roman numeral).
'cloak' becomes 'mantle' (mantle is a kind of cloak**).
The last letter of 'removed' is 'd'.
'd'+'is'+'mantle'='DISMANTLE'

'having' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for dismantle that I've seen before include "Undo" , "Strip down" , "strike" , "Take to bits" , "Take apart" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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