Call softly to jerk making crossword (7)
I believe the answer is:
cryptic
'crossword' is the definition.
(cryptic is a type of crossword)
'call softly to jerk' is the wordplay.
'call' becomes 'cry' (as in a bird's call).
'softly' becomes 'p' (short for piano, musical term for softly).
'to jerk' becomes 'tic' (jerking movement by the body).
'cry'+'p'+'tic'='CRYPTIC'
'making' is the link.
(Other definitions for cryptic that I've seen before include "Obscure in meaning" , "The other kind of crossword" , "'Obscure, puzzling (7)'" , "Like some crosswords" , "Esoteric" .)