Crossword Genius

You can play it and see, oddly, if Oslo is Norway's capital? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

violin

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

'you can play it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'see oddly if oslo is norway's capital?' is the wordplay.
'see' becomes 'v' (Latin 'vide', used to direct a reader to a source).
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'capital?' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'capital' mean this).
The first letters of 'is norways' is 'in'.
'if'+'oslo'='ifoslo'
The alternating letters of 'ifoslo' are 'iol'.
'v'+'iol'+'in'='VIOLIN'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for violin that I've seen before include "An elevated fiddle" , "A stringed musical instrument, say a Stradivarius" , "Menuhin's instrument" , "Instrument with four strings" , "Bowed instrument" .)

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