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A horse's refusal, we hear (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

neigh

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'a horse's' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'refusal we hear' is the wordplay.
'refusal' becomes 'nay' (archaic word for 'no').
'we hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'nay' sounds like 'NEIGH'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for neigh that I've seen before include "Whinnying noise" , "Sound coming from Ben Nevis" , "Equine utterance" , "one made by Bucephalus?" , "Mare's cry, e.g." .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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