Crossword Genius

Fastener husband used to secure a pipe (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hookah

'pipe' is the definition.
(I know that hookah is a type of pipe)

'fastener husband used to secure a' is the wordplay.
'fastener' becomes 'hook' (hook is a kind of fastener).
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'used to secure' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'hook'+'h'='hookh'
'hookh' going around 'a' is 'HOOKAH'.

(Other definitions for hookah that I've seen before include "Water-pipe" , "Oriental tobacco pipe that cools the smoke" , "Sort of pipe" , "What's smoked" , "Turkish pipe" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app