Crossword Genius

Volunteers, female, with cheese and cloth (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

taffeta

'cloth' is the definition.
(taffeta is a kind of cloth)

'volunteers female with cheese' is the wordplay.
'volunteers' becomes 'TA' (abbreviation for Territorial Army).
'female' becomes 'f' (common abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'cheese' becomes 'feta' (type of cheese).
'ta'+'f'+'feta'='TAFFETA'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for taffeta that I've seen before include "it has a fine texture" , "Fabric - fat fate (anag)" , "Fabric -- a fat eft (anag)" , "Thin silky material" , "Fine crisp lustrous fabric" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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