Parrot claiming advantage, having nipped a hand (8)
I believe the answer is:
applause
'hand' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'parrot claiming advantage having nipped a' is the wordplay.
'parrot' becomes 'ape' (both can mean to imitate).
'claiming' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'advantage' becomes 'plus' (a plus is an advantage or benefit).
'having nipped' is an insertion indicator.
'plus' going around 'a' is 'plaus'.
'ape' going around 'plaus' is 'APPLAUSE'.
(Other definitions for applause that I've seen before include "Approving clap" , "Ovation, acclaim" , "Approval expressed by clapping" , "Audible indication of approval or praise" , "round, perhaps?" .)