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To snub a girl may be wounding (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cutlass

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'be wounding' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'to snub a girl' is the wordplay.
'to snub' becomes 'cut' ('cut' can be a synonym of 'snub').
'a girl' becomes 'lass' (lass can informally mean a girl).
'cut'+'lass'='CUTLASS'

'may' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cutlass that I've seen before include "Old sailor's weapon" , "Pirate sword" , "Pirate's sword" , "Steel" , "Curved, one-edged sword" .)

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