Brawl in wood to obtain payment (8)
I believe the answer is:
defrayal
'payment' is the definition.
(I know that payment can be written as defrayal)
'brawl in wood' is the wordplay.
'brawl' becomes 'fray' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'wood' becomes 'deal' (deal is a kind of wood).
'fray' going within 'deal' is 'DEFRAYAL'.
'to obtain' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for defrayal that I've seen before include "The provision of money to pay expenses" , "Settlement" , "Payment for cost" .)