Crossword Genius

Free-living type broad in the beam? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hippy

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'free-living type broad' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'in the beam?' is the wordplay.
'in' becomes 'hip' (both can mean fashionable).
'the beam?' becomes 'py' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'hip'+'py'='HIPPY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hippy that I've seen before include "Big-bummed" , "beatnik?" , "Flower child?" , "Rebel" , "Lover of the 60s" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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