Crossword Genius

What a cackling female may do (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lay

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'do' is the definition.
(I know that lay is a type of devise)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lay that I've seen before include "bed" , "Not ordained; song" , "Narrative poem" , "in which hens regularly produce eggs?" , "Place on a surface" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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