It's meant to frighten birds, and wear crocs down (9)
I believe the answer is:
scarecrow
'down' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'it's meant to frighten birds and wear crocs' is the wordplay.
'wear crocs' anagrams to 'SCARECROW'.
But, I am unsure how the anagram is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scarecrow that I've seen before include "pest controller" , "one deters" , "shabby one" , "scruff" , "Badly-dressed person" .)