Crossword Genius

Try for goal, not starting to laugh (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hoot

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

'try for goal not starting' is the wordplay.
'try for goal' becomes 'shoot' (as in shooting for a goal in football).
'not starting' means to remove the first letter.
'shoot' with its first letter taken off is 'HOOT'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for hoot that I've seen before include "Cry of owl" , "Funny thing (informal);bird call" , "Raucous cry" , "Honk - laugh" , "Screech" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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