Crossword Genius

Topless club, say? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

utter

'say?' is the definition.
(saying is a kind of uttering)

'topless club' is the wordplay.
'topless' means to remove the first letter.
'club' becomes 'putter' (putter is a kind of club).
'putter' with its initial letter removed is 'UTTER'.

(Other definitions for utter that I've seen before include "Dead" , "Express audibly" , "To say, articulate" , "talk" , "Absolutely" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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