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Understated clothing for Dickens character's in boring work (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

drudgery

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'boring work' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'understated clothing for dickens character's' is the wordplay.
'understated' becomes 'dry' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'clothing for' indicates putting letters inside.
'dickens character' becomes 'rudge' (character in Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens).
'dry' going around 'rudge' is 'DRUDGERY'.

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for drudgery that I've seen before include "Grind" , "Tedious toil" , "Dull menial work" , "chores" , "tedium" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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