She needs a sailor to make her a superior lady (4)
I believe the answer is:
bess
'she' is the definition.
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bess that I've seen before include "Elizabeth (dim.)" , "Our Good Queen" , "Black - was Dick Turpin's horse" , "Queen Elizabeth 1 (sl)" , "George Gershwin opera 'Porgy and . . . .'" .)