Morning caller before stopping cuckoo clock (8)
I believe the answer is:
cockerel
'morning caller' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'before stopping cuckoo clock' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'stopping' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters stop or plug a gap).
'cuckoo' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'clock' anagrammed gives 'cockl'.
'ere' placed inside 'cockl' is 'COCKEREL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cockerel that I've seen before include "Young rooster" , "Young male bird" , "Farm awakener" , "Young domestic male fowl" , "He's liable to crow" .)