Crossword Genius

Wander up country without getting burnt (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

charred

'burnt' is the definition.
(charring is a kind of burning)

'wander up country without' is the wordplay.
'wander' becomes 'err'.
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'country' becomes 'chad' (Chad is an example**).
'without' is an insertion indicator.
'err' written backwards gives 'rre'.
'rre' going within 'chad' is 'CHARRED'.

'getting' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for charred that I've seen before include "Scorched and blackened" , "Overcooked" , "Cleaned" , "Partially burned" , "Blackened by fire" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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