Hostelries in the south mistreated waitstaff (8)
I believe the answer is:
servants
'hostelries' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for servants that I've seen before include "Household staff" , "They're employed in the service of government" , "those waiting" , "Flunkeys" , "They look after the personal needs of others" .)