Crossword Genius

Loud crowd threatening a seafaring group (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

flotilla

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'seafaring group' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'loud crowd threatening a' is the wordplay.
'loud' becomes 'f' (short for forte - 'loud' in music).
'crowd' becomes 'lot' (a lot of people).
'threatening' becomes 'ill'.
'f'+'lot'+'ill'+'a'='FLOTILLA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for flotilla that I've seen before include "set of boats" , "number of vessels" , "A lot of craft" , "set of vessels" , "Group of boats or small warships" .)

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