Number of sailors try to entertain soldier (6)
I believe the answer is:
shanty
'number of sailors' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'try to entertain soldier' is the wordplay.
'try' becomes 'shy' (as in the phrase 'have a shy at').
'to entertain' is an insertion indicator.
'soldier' becomes 'ant' (soldier is a type of ant).
'shy' placed around 'ant' is 'SHANTY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shanty that I've seen before include "Sailor's song or derelict building" , "A sailor's traditional song" , "Small crude shelter and sailor's song" , "Poor home - sailors' song" , "folk song" .)