Crossword Genius

Joe with the Spanish chook? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cockerel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'chook?' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'joe with the spanish' is the wordplay.
'joe with' becomes 'cocker' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'the spanish' becomes 'el' ('the' in Spanish).
'cocker'+'el'='COCKEREL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cockerel that I've seen before include "He's liable to crow" , "Young male bird" , "Farmyard bird" , "Young rooster" , "Young domestic cock" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app