Ineffectual chap — deceptive character extracting pounds (6)
I believe the answer is:
buffer
'ineffectual chap' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for buffer that I've seen before include "It lessons the force of an impact, something in between" , "Protector against shock" , "Cushion" , "Device that reduces the shock of impact" , "Thing or structure that lessens effect of impact" .)