The days before Greaves lost rag (4)

I believe the answer is:

eves

'the days before' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'greaves lost rag' is the wordplay.
'lost' suggests deleting specific letters.
'greaves' with 'rag' taken away is 'EVES'.

(Another definition for eves that I've seen is " Early ladies of the nights before".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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