Loses skin when forty winks return (5)
I believe the answer is:
peels
'loses skin' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'forty winks return' is the wordplay.
'forty winks' becomes 'sleep' (I've seen this in another clue).
'return' is a reversal indicator.
'sleep' backwards is 'PEELS'.
'when' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for peels that I've seen before include "Removes skin, rind" , "Strips off" , "Removes the skin from an orange" .)