Crossword Genius

Syrian barrage set to defend area (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

damascene

'syrian' is the definition.
(Damascene is an example)

'barrage set to defend area' is the wordplay.
'barrage' becomes 'dam' (barrage can mean a dam).
'set' becomes 'scene' (scene is a kind of set).
'to defend' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'dam'+'scene'='damscene'
'damscene' going around 'a' is 'DAMASCENE'.

(Other definitions for damascene that I've seen before include "in Arab city" , "Middle Eastern" , "gold inlay" , "of very ancient city" , "Middle Easterner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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