Players beginning to drink liquor? Just one in the percussion section (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
side drum
'one in the percussion section' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'players beginning to drink liquor?' is the wordplay.
'players' becomes 'side' (eg a football side).
'beginning to' indicates taking the first letters.
'liquor?' becomes 'rum' (rum is a kind of liquor).
The initial letter of 'drink' is 'd'.
'side'+'d'+'rum'='SIDE-DRUM'
'just' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for side drum that I've seen before include "One's struck by player" , "Percussion instrument" , "one's soundly beaten" , "Instrument in the kitchen" .)