One paw may be raised in self-defence (6)
I believe the answer is:
weapon
'raised in self-defence' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'one paw may be' is the wordplay.
'may be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'one'+'paw'='onepaw'
'onepaw' anagrammed gives 'WEAPON'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for weapon that I've seen before include "Implement to cause harm" , "Means of offensive action" , "club, perhaps" , "Thing used to inflict bodily harm" , "Fighting instrument" .)