Propose all-out battle with head of emergency services? (9)
I believe the answer is:
tableware
'services?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'propose all-out battle with head of emergency' is the wordplay.
'propose' becomes 'table' (as in tabling a motion).
'all-out battle' becomes 'war' (I've seen this in other clues. I am not sure about the 'all-out' bit.).
'with head of' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'emergency' is 'e'.
'table'+'war'+'e'='TABLEWARE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tableware that I've seen before include "Dinner service" , "knives, etc" , "Crockery, cutlery, etc." , "Bowls, for example" .)