Poisoner, tuft of hair beneath fringe (7)
I believe the answer is:
hemlock
'poisoner tuft' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'hair beneath fringe' is the wordplay.
'hair' becomes 'lock' (lock is a kind of hair).
'beneath' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue).
'fringe' becomes 'hem' (I've seen this in another clue).
'lock' put after 'hem' is 'HEMLOCK'.
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hemlock that I've seen before include "Highly poisonous relative of parsley" , "Poison killing Socrates" , "Poisonous drug" , "Poisonous plant" , "Poisonous weed" .)