Crossword Genius

Was fishy (or ratty?) (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smelt

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'ratty?' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs can sometimes mean the same thing.

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(Other definitions for smelt that I've seen before include "Small fish of salmon species" , "were high" , "Extract metal from ore, fish" , "Extract metal from twenty two" , "Arab leader" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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