They have heady associations in minor circles (8)
I believe the answer is:
ringlets
'minor circles' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both shapes as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'they have heady associations' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'have' could be 'let' (letting is a kind of having) and 'let' is present in the answer.
'associations' could be 'rings' (ring is a kind of association) and 'rings' is found within the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ringlets that I've seen before include "Curls or tendrils" , "Locks" , "Curls, of Irish dancers say" , "Sterling sort of curls" , "Spiral curls" .)