Crossword Genius

Upsets the lighters (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spills

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'lighters' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'upsets' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'upsets' could be 'ills' (ill is a kind of upset) and 'ills' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spills that I've seen before include "Pieces of rolled paper used to light a fire" , "Causes liquid to flow out" , "Pieces of rolled paper used to light fires" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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