Figure the way to get a vessel (4)
I believe the answer is:
dhow
'a vessel' is the definition.
(dhow is a kind of vessel)
'figure the way to' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'd' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'the way to' becomes 'how' (ie how to do something).
'd'+'how'='DHOW'
'get' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dhow that I've seen before include "Arab sailing boat" , "Arabian sailing vessel" , "Arab sailer" , "Arab coastal vessel" , "Arab vessel with lateen sail" .)