Might be a fool, you say, to leave (6)

I believe the answer is:

desert

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'leave' is the definition.
(deserting is a kind of leaving)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for desert that I've seen before include "Abandon, waterless area" , "Kalahari, for example" , "merit and a > quiet place" , "ditch" , "Kalahari, e.g." .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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