Crossword Genius

Old crate fashioned into stools (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

excreta

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'into stools' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'old crate fashioned' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'fashioned' is an anagram indicator.
'crate' with letters rearranged gives 'creta'.
'ex'+'creta'='EXCRETA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for excreta that I've seen before include "waste" , "Discharge" , "motion" , "Ordure" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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