Crossword Genius

Vessel with top shot, a nostrum (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

panacea

'nostrum' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'vessel with top shot a' is the wordplay.
'vessel' becomes 'pan' (vessel or container for cooking).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'top shot' becomes 'ace' (I've seen this in another clue).
'pan'+'ace'+'a'='PANACEA'

(Other definitions for panacea that I've seen before include "Universal medicine" , "A cure-all for diseases or troubles" , "that can make anything better" , "Cure for all ills" , "Nostrum" .)

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