Crossword Genius

Old attendant around queen and sovereign in type of fur (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

squirrel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'type of fur' is the definition.

'old attendant around queen and sovereign' is the wordplay.
'old attendant' becomes 'squire' (squire is a kind of attendant. I am not sure about the 'old' bit.**).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'queen' becomes 'r' (r is abbreviation regina. e.g. in ER ).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'sovereign' becomes 'l' (sovereign can mean pound and therefore L).
'squire' enclosing 'r' is 'squirre'.
'squirre'+'l'='SQUIRREL'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for squirrel that I've seen before include "hide away" , "Timmy Tiptoes, for example" , "- Nutkin (Potter)" , "Tree-dwelling rodent" , "Nut hoarder" .)

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