Crossword Genius

Table: first of furniture items lost (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eats

'table' is the definition.
(both can refer to food)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for eats that I've seen before include "fare" , "Food (slang)" , "corrodes" , "worrying" , "Scoff" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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