Crossword Genius

Musical instruments to entertain elderly in low spirits (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

doldrums

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

'musical instruments to entertain elderly' is the wordplay.
'musical instruments' becomes 'drums' (drum is a kind of musical instrument).
'to entertain' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'elderly' becomes 'old' (similar in meaning).
'drums' going around 'old' is 'DOLDRUMS'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for doldrums that I've seen before include "Area of calms between the northern and southern trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific" , "Depressed state of mind" , "Belt of light winds near the equator" , "Belt of calm where winds from north and south come together" , "equatorial area" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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