Crossword Genius

Judge leads foxhunt regularly, state protection? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

johnny

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'protection?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'judge leads foxhunt regularly state' is the wordplay.
'leads' says to take the initial letters.
'regularly' indicates alternate letters (regularly take one letter, leave next etc.).
'state' becomes 'ny' (abbreviation for New York the US state).
The first letter of 'judge' is 'j'.
The alternating letters of 'foxhunt' are 'ohn'.
'j'+'ohn'+'ny'='JOHNNY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for johnny that I've seen before include "New arrival" , "- - Depp, actor" , "Man (informal); man's name" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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