Identify Spike is a little nipper that might need polishing? (10)
I believe the answer is:
fingernail
'a little nipper that might need polishing?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'identify spike' is the wordplay.
'identify' becomes 'finger' (I've seen this before).
'spike' becomes 'nail' (I've seen this before).
'finger'+'nail'='FINGERNAIL'
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fingernail that I've seen before include "One in ten" , "extreme protection results" , "Part of hand" .)