Crossword Genius

Taken in by Mafia women raising abandoned child (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

waif

'abandoned child' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'taken in by mafia women raising' is the wordplay.
'taken in by' indicates a hidden word.
'raising' is a reversal indicator.
'fiaw' is hidden in the letters of 'mafia women'.
'fiaw' written backwards gives 'WAIF'.

(Other definitions for waif that I've seen before include "Ragamuffin" , "neglected issue" , "Be incongruous" , "Forsaken child" , "Homeless child - thin person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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