Crossword Genius

Topless witches' appliance (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oven

'appliance' is the definition.
(oven is a kind of appliance)

'topless witches'' is the wordplay.
'topless' means to remove the first letter.
'witches'' becomes 'coven' (a coven is a group of witches).
'coven' with its first letter taken away is 'OVEN'.

(Other definitions for oven that I've seen before include "You can cook in this" , "Enclosed chamber for cooking" , "Kiln, cooker" , "Hot spot" , "Cooker; furnace" .)

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