Vessel that stole into street (8)

I believe the answer is:

showboat

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'vessel' is the definition.
(showboat is a kind of vessel)

'that stole into street' is the wordplay.
'that' becomes 'how' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stole' becomes 'boa' (I've seen this before).
'into' indicates putting letters inside.
'street' becomes 'st'.
'how'+'boa'='howboa'
'howboa' inserted inside 'st' is 'SHOWBOAT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for showboat that I've seen before include "parade" , "Give OTT performance" , "Floating entertainment" , "What exhibitionists do" , "stage work for American theatre" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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