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Study rat first to explain pattern on book's cover (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dentelle

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'pattern on book's cover' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'study rat first to explain' is the wordplay.
'study' becomes 'den' (term for a study or office).
'rat' becomes 'tell' (I've seen this in another clue).
'first to' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'explain' is 'e'.
'den'+'tell'+'e'='DENTELLE'

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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