Crossword Genius

First victim: sailor taken by the Spanish (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abel

'first victim' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'sailor taken by the spanish' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'taken by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the spanish' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'ab'+'el'='ABEL'

(Other definitions for abel that I've seen before include "Victim of 11" , "One of the first children" , "Old Testament brother" , "Cain slew him" , "Cornish city" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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