Fury as maritime cities backed (5)
I believe the answer is:
strop
'fury' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for strop that I've seen before include "Prime cutthroat" , "Outburst" , "Sharpen an old blade" , "rage" , "Bad temper - sharpen (a razor)" .)