Crossword Genius

Picked up drugs by end of jetty for midshipman? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

easy

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'midshipman?' is the definition.
(ref to Frederick Marryat novel Mr Midshipman Easy)

'picked up drugs by end of jetty' is the wordplay.
'picked up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'drugs by' becomes 'sae' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'end of' indicates one should take the final letters.
The last letter of 'jetty' is 'y'.
'sae' reversed gives 'eas'.
'eas'+'y'='EASY'

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for easy that I've seen before include "Presenting no problems" , "Not challenging" , "Undemanding" , "Facile" , "Frederick Marryat's midshipman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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