Mother and child finding rock layer (5)
I believe the answer is:
mason
'rock layer' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'mother and child' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (ma can mean mother).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'child' becomes 'son' (male child).
'ma'+'son'='MASON'
'finding' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mason that I've seen before include "Craftsman working in stone" , "US comedian" , "A skilled worker in stone" , "One in lodge" , "Stone carver" .)