Crossword Genius

Study about indifferent male farmers (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dairymen

'farmers' is the definition.
(I know this)

'study about indifferent male' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'den' (term for a study or office).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'indifferent' becomes 'airy' (airy can mean casual or indifferent).
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'airy'+'m'='airym'
'den' going around 'airym' is 'DAIRYMEN'.

(Another definition for dairymen that I've seen is " those who deal in the white stuff".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app