American convict in square with chick (8)
I believe the answer is:
yardbird
'american convict' is the definition.
(US term for a prisoner)
'square with chick' is the wordplay.
'square' becomes 'yard' (as in a courtyard).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'chick' becomes 'bird' (synonyms).
'yard'+'bird'='YARDBIRD'
'in' acts as a link.
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