Quirky, picky, periodically retiring little ’un (5)

I believe the answer is:

kiddo

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'little 'un' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'quirky picky periodically retiring' is the wordplay.
'quirky' becomes 'odd' (I've seen this in another clue).
'periodically' indicates alternate letters (letters must be selected 'every so often').
'retiring' is a reversal indicator.
The alternating letters of 'picky' are 'ik'.
'odd'+'ik'='oddik'
'oddik' written backwards gives 'KIDDO'.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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