Azed 1793

[pldcav]

3d Senior 'knight' in Malaysia? One lost his title in post (5)
The answer is DATUK, but can anyone explain the wordplay in the second half of the clue?

[JMR27]

Dak means mail-post in India but that's as far as I've got

[JMR27]

and tuan is a title of respect in Malaya - can you work it out now (because I can't)

[crofter]

Not a sharp clue, but TU(AN) lost one (AN) = TU inside DAK (post) gives DATUK (all the work done by JMR27)

[pldcav]

Thanks. His title (TUAN) with one (AN) lost gives TU inside DAK, which just about gets there. I don't think I'd have found it on my own!

[Quizmonster]

I assumed that the 'an' of 'tuan' was the 'one' that 'got lost'...leaving 'datuk'.

[pldcav]

I'm glad we're all agreed on that then!

[Quizmonster]

As all three of the last answers are timed identically, it's clear that Crofter's and your own responses weren't there when I wrote mine!

[stephem]

The clue was used before back in number 1715. See http://www.crossword.org.uk/azr1715.htm where it also explains how to get the answer.

[JMR27]

Glad that's sorted! I don't do that crossword and it was bugging me! I must admit I hadn't come across either word before - I just happen to have the Chambers dictionary grafted onto my right hand

[stephem]

Sorry, I meant the answer was used before. The clue was slightly different but the reasoning is the same.

[Quizmonkey]

I still think the clue's flawed - especially given Azed's usual, often pernickety, standards. Not one of my favourite setters...!

[pldcav]

DATIN was also in a crossword I did recently, can't remember which. The clue in Azed 1715 rings a bell or two now you draw our attention to it.