Crossword Genius

Walk shakily from the counter (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

totter

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

'walk shakily' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'the counter' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'otter' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for totter that I've seen before include "Wobble - rag-and-bone man" , "Stagger, reel" , "Walk shakily as if about to fall" , "Proceed unsteadily" , "Move unsteadily; be about to fall" .)

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