Crossword Genius

English play about small island (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eyot

'small island' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'english play about' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'play' becomes 'toy' ('toy' can be a synonym of 'play').
'about' says the letters should be written backwards.
'toy' back-to-front is 'yot'.
'e'+'yot'='EYOT'

(Other definitions for eyot that I've seen before include "Little island in a river or lake" , "land in the river" , "Fawlty Towers waiter" , "Islet found in a river, (especially in England)" , "There's one at Chiswick" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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