Don't take out missing lad in cowboy hat (4)
I believe the answer is:
stet
'hat' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stet that I've seen before include "Cancellation of correction" , "Editorial instruction meaning "let it stand"" , "'Let it stand, in printing (4)'" , "Notation meaning as is, thus" , "Let it stand (L)" .)