Crossword Genius

Thugs regularly given blow and grass (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tussock

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

'thugs regularly given blow' is the wordplay.
'regularly given' means one should take alternating letters.
'blow' becomes 'sock' (I have seen 'Hard blow ' mean 'sock' so perhaps 'blow' could also mean 'sock').
The alternate letters of 'thugs' are 'tus'.
'tus'+'sock'='TUSSOCK'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for tussock that I've seen before include "Tuft of grass" , "Clump of hair" , "(Of grass) cut" , "Grassy clump" , "Thick patch of grass" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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