A ray of light to the side of the ship (5)

I believe the answer is:

abeam

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'light to the side of the ship' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'a ray' is the wordplay.
'ray' becomes 'beam' (synonyms).
'a'+'beam'='ABEAM'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abeam that I've seen before include "neither fore nor aft?" , "at right angles to a ship's keel" , "At right angles to ship's length" , "at right angles to the plane" , "Set across" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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