Fine service, hard and fast (4-3)
I believe the answer is:
well-set
'fast' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'fine service hard' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'fine' could be 'well' (similar in meaning) and 'well' is found within the answer.
'hard' could be 'set' (similar in meaning) and 'set' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for well-set that I've seen before include "Solidly fixed" , "Firmly established" .)