Dickensian lad starts to explain chimney-sweeping, thinner brush for narrow flue (4,7)
I believe the answer is:
pipe cleaner
'narrow flue' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'dickensian lad starts to explain chimney-sweeping thinner brush' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'thinner' could be 'leaner' ('lean' is associated in meaning with 'thin') and 'leaner' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pipe cleaner that I've seen before include "Smoker's aid" , "one's wiry, for a smoker" , "Smoker's accessory" , "Wire covered with tufts of wool" , "Smoker might use such" .)