Daughter understands plaited hair (6)
I believe the answer is:
dreads
'plaited hair' is the definition.
(dreadlocks)
'daughter understands' is the wordplay.
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'understands' becomes 'reads' (reading is a kind of understanding).
'd'+'reads'='DREADS'
(Other definitions for dreads that I've seen before include "Is terrified" , "Looks ahead with apprehension" , "Greatly fears, is most apprehensive of" , "Sadder (anag)" , "Is in great fear of" .)