Crossword Genius

Vessels? Pour water into area, accommodating collection (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

flotilla

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

'collection' is the definition.
(I know that flotilla is a type of fleet)

'vessels? pour water into area accommodating' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'area' could be 'lot' (lot is a kind of area) and 'lot' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for flotilla that I've seen before include "Group of small craft" , "A lot of craft" , "number of small ships" , "Group of boats or small warships" , "many boats" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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