Traitor in the pirates' midst (3)

I believe the answer is:

rat

'traitor' is the definition.
(rat can mean a traitor)

'in the pirates' midst' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'RAT' is hidden within 'pirates midst'.

(Other definitions for rat that I've seen before include "Destructive rodent" , "Unpopular rodent" , "Rodent; informer (colloq.)" , "one who betrayed" , "Abandon" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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