Kin of -ette (3)
I believe the answer is:
ess
'kin of ette' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ess that I've seen before include "top secret" , "Curvaceous letter" , "Letter from Mid-West" , "One next to tee" , "Alphabet letter" .)