Officer getting a kiss from a pippin! (3)
I believe the answer is:
cox
'a pippin' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'officer getting a kiss' is the wordplay.
'officer' becomes 'co' (Commanding Officer abbreviation).
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a kiss' becomes 'x'.
'co'+'x'='COX'
'from' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cox that I've seen before include "Steerer of oarsmen in rowing boat" , "He's in charge of a racing boat and its rowers" , "Steersman" , "Helmsman" , "Boat's steerer" .)