Crossword Genius

Tripe small number in Essex noshed regularly (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nonsense

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

'small number in essex noshed regularly' is the wordplay.
'small number' becomes 'no' (abbreviation; 'small' indicates a short form).
'regularly' means one should take alternating letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'in'+'essex'+'noshed'='inessexnoshed'
The alternate letters of 'inessexnoshed' are 'nsense'.
'no'+'nsense'='NONSENSE'

(Other definitions for nonsense that I've seen before include "Codswallop, hooey" , "Bilge, drivel" , "Rubbish, foolish talk" , "Boloney, tosh" , "Having no intelligible meaning" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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