Hand back the deserter (3)
I believe the answer is:
rat
This could be a double definition.
'hand back' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'the deserter' is the second definition.
(both can mean a traitor)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rat that I've seen before include "person doing shopping" , "Renegade" , "Despicable person" , "Betray like a rodent" , "Abandon" .)