Be defensive as you pay out with a growl (5)
I believe the answer is:
parry
'be defensive' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'you pay out with a growl' is the wordplay.
'you' becomes 'ya' (non-standard spelling as in 'see ya later').
'out with' suggests deleting specific letters.
'a growl' becomes 'arry' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'pay' with 'ya' taken out is 'p'.
'p'+'arry'='PARRY'
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for parry that I've seen before include "Duck" , "Impede movement" , "Answer evasively; 'Jerusalem' composer" , "Deflect (a blow)" , "Block - deflect" .)