Crossword Genius

Taverner verifying bottles or bottle? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nerve

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

'taverner verifying bottles' is the wordplay.
'bottles' indicates a hidden word (bottling is a kind of containing).
'NERVE' is hidden in the letters of 'taverner verifying'.

'or' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for nerve that I've seen before include "Fibre carrying impulses from brain to body" , "Cord that carries instructions from brain to body" , "Sauce" , "Strand of body tissue" , "Bundles of fibres in the body that transmit instructions" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app