Crossword Genius

Fat friend, briefly ill, after doctor (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

palm oil

'fat' is the definition.
(I know that palm oil is a type of vegetable oil)

'friend briefly ill after doctor' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'doctor' becomes 'mo' (medical officer).
'ill' with its last letter taken away is 'il'.
'il' after 'mo' is 'moil'.
'pal'+'moil'='PALM-OIL'

(Other definitions for palm oil that I've seen before include "Product of tropical tree" , "Vegetable fat" , "Fatty tree product" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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