Crossword Genius

Heading for emergency minutes after hard border (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hem

'border' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'heading for emergency minutes after hard' is the wordplay.
'heading for' indicates taking the first letters.
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hard' becomes 'h'.
The initial letters of 'emergency minutes' is 'em'.
'em' after 'h' is 'HEM'.

(Other definitions for hem that I've seen before include "Sewn border" , "Stitched edge of garment" , "may attract attention" , "A stitched border of cloth" , "Express hesitation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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