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Retiring female loves husband, maybe a bit of an ass (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hoof

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'a bit of an ass' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'retiring female loves husband' is the wordplay.
'retiring' says the letters should be written backwards.
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'loves' becomes 'oo' (two O's - 'love' means zero in tennis).
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'f'+'oo'+'h'='fooh'
'fooh' back-to-front is 'HOOF'.

'maybe' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hoof that I've seen before include "Foot of ungulate" , "in impromptu manner, on this" , "Part of animal's foot" , "Horse's horny foot casing" , "Kick - dance - part of a horse" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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