Crossword Genius

Noble gas identified by knight a long time in America (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

neon

'noble gas' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'knight a long time in america' is the wordplay.
'knight' becomes 'N' (chess abbreviation).
'a long time in america' becomes 'eon' (US spelling of 'aeon').
'n'+'eon'='NEON'

'identified by' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for neon that I've seen before include "Element that gives a red glow in a vacuum tube" , "Colourless noble gas" , "Noble gas used in illuminated signs" , "Small plant; colour" , "Gas used in fluorescent lighting" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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