Crossword Genius

Unwholesome air of missing serviceman's mother (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

miasma

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

'missing serviceman's mother' is the wordplay.
'missing serviceman' becomes 'mias' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'mother' becomes 'ma' (Ma is another word for mother or mum).
'mias'+'ma'='MIASMA'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for miasma that I've seen before include "Unwholesome atmosphere, unhealthy vapors" , "In poor atmospheric conditions" , "Foul vapour" , "Oppressive atmosphere" , "Foul vapours or unwholesome air" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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