Relish private eye once losing case in dock (8)

I believe the answer is:

piquancy

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'relish' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'private eye once losing case in dock' is the wordplay.
'private eye' becomes 'PI' (synonyms).
'once losing case' becomes 'nc' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'dock' becomes 'quay' (quay is a kind of dock).
'nc' inserted within 'quay' is 'quancy'.
'pi'+'quancy'='PIQUANCY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for piquancy that I've seen before include "Tart spicy quality" , "Tang" , "Tanginess" , "Appetising flavour" , "Pleasant spiciness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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