Dad phoned for a Malayan machete (6)
I believe the answer is:
parang
'a malayan machete' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'dad phoned' is the wordplay.
'dad' becomes 'pa' (both can mean one's father).
'phoned' becomes 'rang' ('ring' can be a synonym of 'phone').
'pa'+'rang'='PARANG'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for parang that I've seen before include "Heavy Malay knife" , "Dyak of Borneo's knife" , "Knife used by Dyaks of Borneo" .)