Pull or twist a gut (3)
I believe the answer is:
tug
'pull' is the definition.
(to tug something is to pull it)
'twist a gut' is the wordplay.
'twist' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (I've seen 'twisting' mean this (letters twist back)).
'gut' written backwards gives 'TUG'.
'or' is the link.
(Other definitions for tug that I've seen before include "Tow (of war?)" , "Pull hard or suddenly" , "Pull at, or a boat that pulls" , "Pull a form of boat" , "Pull sharply" .)