Prisoner charges grand less than original charge for weapons (9)
I believe the answer is:
gunpowder
'original charge for weapons' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'prisoner charges grand less' is the wordplay.
'prisoner' becomes 'pow' (prisoner of war).
'charges' indicates putting letters inside (charge can mean to charge into something).
'grand' becomes 'g' (G is short for grand as in a thousand).
'less' becomes 'under' (I've seen this in other clues).
'g'+'under'='gunder'
'pow' put within 'gunder' is 'GUNPOWDER'.
'than' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gunpowder that I've seen before include "likely to go up?" , "this plot failed" , "It's used in gunnery and fireworks" , "Ingredient of fireworks" , "Explosive mixture - plot of 1605" .)