Hour being struck for close acquaintance (9)
I believe the answer is:
neighbour
'acquaintance' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'hour being struck for close' is the wordplay.
'hour being' can be anagrammed to 'NEIGHBOUR'.
But, I am not sure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for neighbour that I've seen before include "Exist near" , "Person living close by" , "Fellow human" , "Someone in the street" , "Such a one might help out" .)