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Wallops tiny insect in boat (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smites

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'wallops' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'tiny insect in boat' is the wordplay.
'tiny insect' becomes 'mite' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'boat' becomes 'SS' (prefix in ship names eg SS Great Britain).
'mite' going inside 'ss' is 'SMITES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for smites that I've seen before include "Strikes heavily or kills, biblical word" , "biblical hits" , "Deals a heavy blow" .)

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