Provoke pointer, say (6)
I believe the answer is:
needle
I believe this is a double definition.
'provoke' is the first definition.
(I know this)
'pointer say' is the second definition.
(a compass needle points)
(Other definitions for needle that I've seen before include "Enmity" , "Persistently annoy" , "Hostility - annoy - sewing tool" , "Annoy by continuous criticism; stylus" , "Gramophone record stylus" .)