Crossword Genius

State of sailor nursed by a Buddhist monk (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alabama

'state' is the definition.
(Alabama is an example)

'sailor nursed by a buddhist monk' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'nursed by' is an insertion indicator.
'buddhist monk' becomes 'lama' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'lama'='alama'
'ab' put within 'alama' is 'ALABAMA'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for alabama that I've seen before include "SE US state" , "US state in the cotton belt" , "State of southeastern US" , "US state known as the Heart of Dixie" , "State of SE USA" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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