Primitive punishment befitting a burgler? (3)
I believe the answer is:
cat
'primitive punishment' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'befitting a burgler?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ct' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cat that I've seen before include "Tabby" , "Feline mammal" , "See 23" , "Pussy" , "Grimalkin" .)