A restraining habit (12)
I believe the answer is:
straitjacket
'habit' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for straitjacket that I've seen before include "restraint" , "restriction" , "Restraining garment" , "Garment used to restrain people" .)