Crossword Genius

Dad holding a fork out for fruit (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

papaya

'for fruit' is the definition.
(papaya is a kind of fruit)

'dad holding a fork out' is the wordplay.
'dad' becomes 'pa' (both can mean one's father).
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'fork out' becomes 'pay' (to fork out for something is to pay for it).
'a'+'pay'='apay'
'pa' enclosing 'apay' is 'PAPAYA'.

(Other definitions for papaya that I've seen before include "Large, green West Indian fruit" , "Custard apple" , "Tropical fruit with pink flesh and black seeds" , "Caribbean fruit" , "Fruit with orange flesh" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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