Very unpleasant 144? (5)

I believe the answer is:

gross

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'144?' is the definition.
(gross can mean the number 144)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for gross that I've seen before include "With no deductions; coarse" , "Foul" , "Twelve dozen" , "Unattractively large; vulgar" , "Excessively - large number" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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