Crossword Genius

Fool engineers explosive compound (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nitre

'explosive compound' is the definition.

'fool engineers' is the wordplay.
'fool' becomes 'nit' (both can mean a stupid person).
'engineers' becomes 're' (Royal Engineers).
'nit'+'re'='NITRE'

(Other definitions for nitre that I've seen before include "Inter (anag.)" , "what goes into bangers" , "explosive ingredient" , "Also known as salt-petre" , "Chemical" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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