Contract secured by quail for device used on American rails (10)
I believe the answer is:
cowcatcher
'device used on american rails' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'contract secured by quail' is the wordplay.
'contract' becomes 'catch' (to catch an illness is to contract it).
'secured by' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are held or secured).
'quail' becomes 'cower' (I've seen this before).
'catch' placed into 'cower' is 'COWCATCHER'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cowcatcher that I've seen before include "Lasso" , "metal frame" , "Frame on front of locomotive" , "Device on old American trains to push aside obstructions" , "attached to front of Chattanooga choo-choo?" .)