The French doctor who wrote essays (4)

I believe the answer is:

lamb

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'the french doctor who wrote essays' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'the french doctor' is the wordplay.
'the french' becomes 'la' ('the' in French).
'doctor' becomes 'mb' (Bachelor of Medicine, Medicinae Baccalaureus).
'la'+'mb'='LAMB'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lamb that I've seen before include "Young creature" , "A follower" , "Writer" , "Young sheep" , "Youngster" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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