Crossword Genius

Intimate note found in can (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

matey

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'intimate' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'note found in can' is the wordplay.
'note' becomes 'te' (musical note).
'found in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'can' becomes 'may' (synonyms).
'te' placed into 'may' is 'MATEY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for matey that I've seen before include "Chummy" , "Sunshine" , "Friendly, sociable" , "Pirate's chum (colloq.)" , "china" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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