Oars are what clippers use (6)
I believe the answer is:
blades
'oars' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for blades that I've seen before include "Cutting parts of knives" , "Knife edges or dashing fellows" , "Leaves of grass or cutting tools" , "cutters" , "They cut" .)