Crossword Genius

Male animal found by old character in shrub (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

buckthorn

'shrub' is the definition.
(buckthorn is a kind of shrub)

'male animal found by old character' is the wordplay.
'male animal' becomes 'buck' (I've seen this before).
'found by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'old character' becomes 'thorn' (letter used in Old English).
'buck'+'thorn'='BUCKTHORN'

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for buckthorn that I've seen is " Prickly berried shrub".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app