Crossword Genius

Report of senior officer — a bit of a nut! (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

kernel

'a bit of a nut' is the definition.
(edible part of a nut)

'report of senior officer' is the wordplay.
'report of' shows a homophone (sound like).
'senior officer' becomes 'colonel'.
'colonel' sounds like 'KERNEL'.

(Other definitions for kernel that I've seen before include "Single cereal grain" , "soft heart" , "Contents of shell" , "Seed in hard shell" , "Nuts and bolts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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