Crossword Genius

Points a friend out for punishment! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

penal

'for punishment' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'points a friend out' is the wordplay.
'points' becomes 'en' (compass points east and north).
'a friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'out' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'en' placed within 'pal' is 'PENAL'.

(Other definitions for penal that I've seen before include "Corrective" , "Involving legal punishment" , "Very severe" , "Deliberately unpleasant" , "Punishable by law" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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