Crossword Genius

Unfinished model drum (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patter

'drum' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'unfinished model' is the wordplay.
'unfinished' means to remove the last letter.
'model' becomes 'pattern' (pattern is a kind of model).
'pattern' with its last letter taken away is 'PATTER'.

(Other definitions for patter that I've seen before include "Noise of fast light steps" , "Rapid and glib speech, perhaps in selling" , "Salesman's chat - walk with quick, soft steps" , "Sales talk or sounds of little feet" , "Rapid and glib talk" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app