Frenchman is to name fluff (9)
I believe the answer is:
mishandle
'fluff' is the definition.
(I know that fluff can be written as mishandle)
'frenchman is to name' is the wordplay.
'frenchman' becomes 'm' (abbreviation for Monsieur - like 'Mr').
'to name' becomes 'handle' (a handle is a name).
'm'+'is'+'handle'='MISHANDLE'
(Other definitions for mishandle that I've seen before include "Wrongly manage" , "Badly judge" , "Fumble" , "Maltreat" , "Bungle" .)