Daily Mail Crossword No 15,902

[badrosebud]

I am not happy with my answer to 1 down , can I ask for help
Fossil student takes ages to record one stone (15)
I have paleontologists but I don't think it's right
Thank you

[Togo]

Palaeontologist

[JJ109]

pal + aeon (ages) + to + log (record) + i (one) +st (stone) = Palaeontologist (fossil student)

However can someone please explain how "pal" is parsed.

[dannyk13]

Clue is incomplete
Fossil student friend etc

[JJ109]

Thanks Danny!

[Angiehowe]

That’s what I put for my answer I thought pal is a friend

[herbage]

I think it does not separate the definition from the clue. Fossil student is used as the meaning and to give pa( your old man)and l

Then the rest as described

Does this go against accepted crossword protocol?

[Mamyalynne]

Fossil student (Definition) friend takes ages to record one stone (wordplay)

[fiction-factory]

Covered above, I think , herbage- clue is incomplete and should have included FRIEND to give the PAL

[herbage]

Ah, makes a big difference

[retrocop]

Yes . It always helps to get the full clue or else we are all floundering.
:-(

[Mamyalynne]

Every word has its role in a cryptic, no wonder it was confusing.

[Togo]

Thing is....we all read clues with a "scan" system on first sight. Rose almost proved it by posting the clue as read. Guilty as charged myself at times.