Crossword Genius

Relative of American set free (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

auntie

'relative' is the definition.
(auntie is a kind of relative)

'american set free' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'set free' becomes 'untie' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'untie'='AUNTIE'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for auntie that I've seen before include "Relation; the BBC" , "Female relative" , "woman in the family" , "Untie a relative" , "BBC; relative (colloq,)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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