Nickname for an abandoned Yankee? (5)

I believe the answer is:

lefty

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'nickname' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.

'an abandoned yankee?' is the wordplay.
'an abandoned' becomes 'left' (I've seen this before).
'yankee?' becomes 'y' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'left'+'y'='LEFTY'

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lefty that I've seen before include "Socialist; communist" , "Trot" , "Radical" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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