Ability to detect rumour? Not I (4)
I believe the answer is:
nose
'ability' is the definition.
(nose is a kind of ability)
'rumour? not i' is the wordplay.
'rumour?' becomes 'noise' (I've seen this in other clues).
'not' suggests deleting specific letters.
'noise' with 'i' taken away is 'NOSE'.
'to detect' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nose that I've seen before include "See 7" , "Pry" , "Faculty for detecting" , "Sense of smell; proceed cautiously" , "Nuzzle" .)