Armed search on walk in empty alley? (6-5)

'armed' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'search on walk in empty alley?' is the wordplay.
'search' becomes 'comb' (combing is a kind of searching).
'on walk' becomes 'tread' (treading is a kind of walking. I am not sure about the 'on' bit.).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'empty' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'alley' with its centre removed is 'ay'.
'tread' inserted into 'ay' is 'atready'.
'comb'+'atready'='COMBAT-READY'

Can you help me to learn more?