Crossword Genius

Female guides American canine back to welcome ambassador (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

usherettes

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

'female guides' is the definition.
'usherettes' can be an answer for 'guides' (usherette is a kind of guide). I'm not certain of the 'female' bit.

'american canine back to welcome ambassador' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'US' (United States).
'canine' becomes 'setter' (setter is a type of dog).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'to welcome' means one lot of letters goes inside another (in sense of 'inviting in').
'ambassador' becomes 'HE' (His or Her Excellency).
'setter' written backwards gives 'rettes'.
'us'+'rettes'='usrettes'
'usrettes' placed around 'he' is 'USHERETTES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for usherettes that I've seen before include "female escorts" , "Guides" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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