Crossword Genius

Arms smuggler is a jolly good sprinter (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gunrunner

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'arms smuggler' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'jolly good sprinter' is the wordplay.
'jolly good' becomes 'gun' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'sprinter' becomes 'runner' (to sprint is to run fast).
'gun'+'runner'='GUNRUNNER'

'is a' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gunrunner that I've seen before include "one secretly moves pieces?" , "Arms smuggler" , "one who moves arms impermissibly" , "Illegal arms dealer" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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