Faint-hearted, about to canter off (8)

I believe the answer is:

recreant

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'faint-hearted' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'about to canter off' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 're' (common abbreviation for 'with reference to').
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'canter' anagrammed gives 'creant'.
're'+'creant'='RECREANT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for recreant that I've seen before include "Craven, apostate" , "yellow" , "disloyal" , "Cowardly; apostate" .)

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

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