Bar with a thick inverted top and fragile bottom (8)
I believe the answer is:
taffrail
'bottom' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'bar with a thick inverted top and fragile' is the wordplay.
'bar' becomes 't' (T-bar is a part of a ski lift).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a thick inverted top' becomes 'af' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'fragile' becomes 'frail' (synonyms).
't'+'af'+'frail'='TAFFRAIL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taffrail that I've seen before include "bar on deck" , "Part of ship's timbers" , "bar at rear of ship" , "Guard on ship" , "Stern guard" .)