What does the cryptic crossword clue "King, when retiring, strokes bird (7)" mean?

The definition is "King,". The wordplay uses a reversal. PETS (reversal="strokes") + HEN (synonym="bird") = STEPHEN; definition: "King," The answer is STEPHEN.

King, when retiring, strokes bird (7)

Guardian Cryptic #28935 | 21 Across | 2022-12-08 flower

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