Fellow broke rod to cross water (4)
I believe the answer is:
ford
'water' is the definition.
(I know that ford is a type of water)
'fellow broke rod to cross' is the wordplay.
'fellow' becomes 'f' (abbreviation - of a society etc.).
'broke' indicates anagramming the letters.
'to cross' indicates putting letters inside.
'rod' anagrammed gives 'ord'.
'f' inserted inside 'ord' is 'FORD'.
(Other definitions for ford that I've seen before include "River or stream crossing" , "Ex-president" , "Famous American of yesteryear" , "Place to cross river" , "38th US president, Gerald" .)