Pause from exertion (7)
I believe the answer is:
respite
'pause from exertion' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for respite that I've seen before include "Abatement, rest" , "Pause from pain" , "Relaxation" , "See trip (anag.)" , "Short let-up" .)