To exit in confusion, circling round Phil Archer? (11)
I believe the answer is:
toxophilite
'archer?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'to exit in confusion circling round phil' is the wordplay.
'in confusion' is an anagram indicator.
'circling' is an insertion indicator (circling can mean going around or containing).
'round' becomes 'o' (round can mean a round object**).
'exit' is an anagram of 'xite'.
'o'+'phil'='ophil'
'xite' placed around 'ophil' is 'xophilite'.
'to'+'xophilite'='TOXOPHILITE'
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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