Crossword Genius

Ticks off a number of skins (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chides

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'ticks off' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I can't see how they can define each other.

'a number of skins' is the wordplay.
'a number of' becomes 'c' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'skins' becomes 'hides' (hide is a kind of skin).
'c'+'hides'='CHIDES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chides that I've seen before include "Admonishes, rebukes" , "Censures severely or angrily" , "Scolds, rebukes" , "Admonishes, reproves" , "Admonishes, scolds" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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