Device for drying vessel that's found in circus (7)
I believe the answer is:
tumbler
'device' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tumbler that I've seen before include "One repeatedly turning over" , "spilling its contents?" , "might be full of drink" , "Machine for drying" , "used to drink" .)