Someone to coddle (5)

I believe the answer is:

molly

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'someone' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for molly that I've seen before include "Diminutive of Mary" , "Mrs Bloom (Joyce)" , "Flanders? Yes, she kept saying" , "Seller of cockles, mussels" , "fish" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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