Frontierswoman called disaster by name (8,4)
I believe the answer is:
calamity jane
'frontierswoman called' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'disaster by name' is the wordplay.
'disaster' becomes 'calamity' (synonyms).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'name' becomes 'jane' ().
'calamity'+'jane'='CALAMITY JANE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for calamity jane that I've seen before include "Musical (no connection with 17!)" , "Frontierswoman M J Burke (Doris Day role)" , "Musical set in Deadwood" .)