Grapples with equipment, small (7)
I believe the answer is:
tackles
'grapples' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'equipment small' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'equipment' could be 'tack' (tack is a kind of equipment) and 'tack' is found within the answer.
'small' could be 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size) and 's' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for tackles that I've seen is " Gets stuck into".)