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Have a bit of a word about friend not getting a fur coat (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

syllable

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'have' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for syllable that I've seen before include "Unit of sound in word" , "Basic pronunciation unit" , "Sounding part of a word" , "A unit of spoken language" , "Unit of a spoken word" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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