First class weapon; top class member of Catholic order of friars (9)
I believe the answer is:
carmelite
'member of catholic order of friars' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'first class weapon top class' is the wordplay.
'first class' becomes 'c' (1st letter of 'class').
'weapon' becomes 'arm' (synonyms).
'top class' becomes 'elite'.
'c'+'arm'+'elite'='CARMELITE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for carmelite that I've seen before include "Does Mal recite about the monk?" , "Prayer" , "Sister" , "member of religious order" , "Friar or nun of particular order" .)