Degree of protection for a chap in the shade (7)
I believe the answer is:
magenta
'the shade' is the definition.
(magenta is a shade of purple)
'degree of protection for a chap' is the wordplay.
'degree of' becomes 'maa' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'protection for' indicates putting letters inside (some letters go around or protect others).
'a chap' becomes 'gent' (both can mean a man).
'maa' placed around 'gent' is 'MAGENTA'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for magenta that I've seen before include "this might be an ink" , "Deep purplish red" , "Colour named after a bloody 1859 battle in Italy" , "fuchsia" , "Name tag (anag) - colour" .)