9 across
Cephalopod
fresh
from
the
sea
mostly
branded
at
first
a
disappointment
(4,5)
Cephalopod fresh from the sea mostly branded at first a disappointment (4,5)
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The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
The wordplay builds up in pieces: DAMP for fresh from the sea, then SQUID (a cephalopod) with its last letter dropped for "mostly" giving SQUI, and finally B as the first letter of "branded" (signalled by "at first"). Put them together for DAMP SQUIB, a disappointment.