Crossword Genius

Understood vessel could be reserved (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

taciturn

'be reserved' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'understood vessel' is the wordplay.
'understood' becomes 'tacit' (I've seen this before).
'vessel' becomes 'urn' (urn is a type of container).
'tacit'+'urn'='TACITURN'

'could' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for taciturn that I've seen before include "Without saying much" , "Uncommunicative, of few words" , "Tending to silence" , "Habitually silent" , "Disinclined towards conversation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.
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