Messes about on lake with boats (5)
I believe the answer is:
larks
'messes about' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'lake with boats' is the wordplay.
'lake' becomes 'L' (geographical abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'boats' becomes 'arks' (ark is a kind of boat).
'l'+'arks'='LARKS'
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for larks that I've seen before include "Small songbirds" , "Birds; fun" , "Early birds" , "Flyers who tweet" , "Frolics" .)