Working girl initially squandered some brass (8)

I believe the answer is:

strumpet

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'working girl initially squandered' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'some brass' is the wordplay.
'some' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'brass' becomes 'trumpet' (trumpet is a kind of brass).
's'+'trumpet'='STRUMPET'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for strumpet that I've seen before include "Hussy" , "Lady of disrepute" , "promiscuous, lady" , "Promiscuous woman" , "Prostitute" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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