Dramatic device from smooth Yankee (5)
I believe the answer is:
irony
'dramatic device' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'smooth yankee' is the wordplay.
'smooth' becomes 'iron' (to smooth down with an iron).
'yankee' becomes 'Y' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'iron'+'y'='IRONY'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for irony that I've seen before include "Socratic method of discussion" , "Conveying meaning by expressing the opposite" , "Sarcastic humour" , "Use of words to imply the opposite of what they mean" , "Scornful wit" .)