Pole holding female's jacket in an emergency (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
mae west
This clue could be a double definition.
'pole holding female's' is the first definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'jacket in an emergency' is the second definition.
'mae west' can be an answer for 'jacket' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'in an emergency' bit.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mae west that I've seen before include "buoyant supporter" , "life-saver" , "embraced many men in the main" , "I acted" , "WW2 inflatable life jacket" .)