Crossword Genius

Friends hit back (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pals

'friends' is the definition.
(pal is a kind of friend)

'hit back' is the wordplay.
'hit' becomes 'slap' (both can mean to strike).
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'slap' in reverse letter order is 'PALS'.

(Another definition for pals that I've seen is " Friends".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent and The Telegraph.
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