Contract British disease (8)

I believe the answer is:

bailment

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'contract' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'british disease' is the wordplay.
'british' becomes 'b' (abbreviation e.g. in 'BBC').
'disease' becomes 'ailment' (I've seen this before).
'b'+'ailment'='BAILMENT'

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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