Some sailors suffer (3)
I believe the answer is:
ail
'suffer' is the definition.
(ailing is a kind of suffering)
'some sailors' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some parts of the word are used).
'AIL' is hidden in the letters of 'sailors'.
(Other definitions for ail that I've seen before include "Cause to feel indisposed" , "pain" , "Be unwell, suffer" , "Be in poor health" , "Afflict -- feel unwell" .)