Brass bottle (5)

I believe the answer is:

nerve

This clue is a double definition.

'brass' is the first definition.
('nerve' can be a synonym of 'brass')

'bottle' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)

(Other definitions for nerve that I've seen before include "Hold it and maintain courage" , "Fibre that carries instructions to the brain" , "Steadiness, courage" , "Audacity (informal)" , "Strand of body tissue" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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