Private protection from sham firearm? (8)
I believe the answer is:
codpiece
'private protection' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'sham firearm?' is the wordplay.
'sham' becomes 'cod' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'firearm?' becomes 'piece' ('piece' can be a synonym of 'firearm').
'cod'+'piece'='CODPIECE'
'from' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for codpiece that I've seen before include "Medieval male accoutrement for the nether regions" , "men put on centuries ago" , "Male dress item of former times" , "for promotion of virility?" , "What kept privates in place" .)