Pretend to be crook mother, then hang around (8)
I believe the answer is:
malinger
'pretend to be crook' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'mother then hang around' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (ma can mean mother).
'then' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hang around' becomes 'linger' (linger can mean to wait or hang around).
'ma'+'linger'='MALINGER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for malinger that I've seen before include "Pretend to be ill to avoid work" , "To shirk work" , "Slack in germinal fashion" , "Avoid duty by pretending sickness" , "Avoid work by feigning illness" .)