Crossword Genius

Hide reportedly expensive fleece (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deerskin

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

'reportedly expensive fleece' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'expensive' becomes 'dear' (similar in meaning).
'fleece' becomes 'skin' (I've seen this in another clue).
'dear' sounds like 'deer'.
'deer'+'skin'='DEERSKIN'

(Other definitions for deerskin that I've seen before include "Hide" , "Type of leather" , "Bambi's pelt?" , "Kind of leather" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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