Formerly the apprentices’ cry? (4)

I believe the answer is:

yell

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'cry?' is the definition.
('yell' can be a synonym of 'cry')

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for yell that I've seen before include "Shetland isle" , "Shout loudly" , "Loud cry; rhymes with collapsed" , "Loud sharp cry" , "Scream" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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