Clip of second try (5)
I believe the answer is:
shear
'clip' is the definition.
(shearing is a kind of clipping)
'second try' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'try' becomes 'hear' (as in to try someone in court or hear their case).
's'+'hear'='SHEAR'
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for shear that I've seen before include "strain" , "Cut with clippers" , "Remove a fleece" , "Remove sheep's wool" , "Fleece (a sheep)" .)