Crossword Genius

Blind gaping, scratching head (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

awning

'blind' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'gaping scratching head' is the wordplay.
'gaping' becomes 'yawning' ('yawn' can be a synonym of 'gape').
'scratching head' means to remove the first letter.
'yawning' with its first letter taken off is 'AWNING'.

(Other definitions for awning that I've seen before include "Cover over shop-front" , "Canvas sunshield" , "Canopy of canvas for shelter" , "Roof of canvas stretched on frame as shelter" , "Canvas shelter as on shopfront" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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