Heartless abbot knocks back first course with cold duck and leaves for a smoke (7)
I believe the answer is:
tobacco
'leaves for a smoke' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'heartless abbot knocks back first course with cold duck' is the wordplay.
'heartless' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'knocks back' says the letters should be written backwards (I've seen 'knock back' mean this).
'first' indicates taking the first letters.
'with cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps. I am not sure about the 'with' bit.**).
'duck' becomes 'o'.
'abbot' with its middle removed is 'abot'.
The first letter of 'course' is 'c'.
'abot' written backwards gives 'toba'.
'toba'+'c'+'c'+'o'='TOBACCO'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tobacco that I've seen before include "Eg, shag or snuff" , "Plant associated with serious health risks" , "Cigarette filling" , "Cob coat to smoke" , "Nicotine plant imported by Sir Walter Raleigh" .)