Crossword Genius

Honey-badger gets speed on line (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ratel

'honey-badger' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'speed on line' is the wordplay.
'speed' becomes 'rate' (rate is a kind of speed**).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'line' becomes 'l'.
'rate'+'l'='RATEL'

'gets' is the link.

(Other definitions for ratel that I've seen before include "animal like a badger" , "Mammal's" , "Badger-like animal" , "one wanting honey" , "Badger-like mammal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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