Parents going around an isthmus? (6)
I believe the answer is:
panama
'isthmus?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'parents going around an' is the wordplay.
'parents' becomes 'pama' (Pa and Ma).
'going around' indicates putting letters inside.
'pama' placed around 'an' is 'PANAMA'.
(Other definitions for panama that I've seen before include "Central American country" , "Land - hat - cigar" , "Canal zone" , "isthmus" , "Country and straw hat" .)