Friend's crossing duck hybrids (6)
I believe the answer is:
alloys
'hybrids' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'friend's crossing duck' is the wordplay.
'friend's' becomes 'ally's' (an ally is a friend or supporter).
'crossing' is an insertion indicator (to cross can mean to go over or around).
'duck' becomes 'o' (resembles zero - 'duck' in cricket).
'allys' placed around 'o' is 'ALLOYS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alloys that I've seen before include "Puts down" , "Metals formed from mixtures of other metals" , "Blends of metals" , "Tempers" .)