Crossword Genius

Tug, small, for US nationals (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yanks

'us nationals' is the definition.
(Yank can informally mean an American)

'tug small' is the wordplay.
'tug' becomes 'yank' (both can mean to pull).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'yank'+'s'='YANKS'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for yanks that I've seen before include "Pulls sharply" , "Physical jerks" , "Tugs" , "Americans; pulls" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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