Opener cross after deadlock
I believe the answer is:
drawbridge
'opener' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'cross after deadlock' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cross' could be 'bridge' (bridging is a kind of crossing) and 'bridge' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'draw' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drawbridge that I've seen before include "adjustable spanner" , "Barbican may defend this" , "that's raised by defenders" , "this may have been deployed in defence" , "Defensive measure" .)