Publican cornering one in lift (5)
I believe the answer is:
hoist
'lift' is the definition.
(hoist can mean to lift something up)
'publican cornering one' is the wordplay.
'publican' becomes 'host' (I've seen this in other clues).
'cornering' is an insertion indicator (to corner can mean to trap).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'host' going around 'i' is 'HOIST'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for hoist that I've seen before include "One that could raise" , "Heave upwards" , "Raise aloft" , "Lift with aid of block and tackle" , "Lift (mechanically)" .)