Crossword Genius

Discharge quiet American (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pus

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

'quiet american' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano').
'american' becomes 'us' (abbreviation for United States).
'p'+'us'='PUS'

(Other definitions for pus that I've seen before include "Fluid formed by suppuration" , "Fluid, a product of inflammation" , "Unpleasant matter" , "Yellow matter formed in infected wound" , "Product of infected tissue" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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