Puts down butchered topsides (8)
I believe the answer is:
deposits
'puts down' is the definition.
'deposits' can be an answer for 'puts' (depositing is a kind of putting). I'm unsure of the 'down' bit.
'butchered topsides' is the wordplay.
'butchered' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'butcher' mean this).
'topsides' anagrammed gives 'DEPOSITS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for deposits that I've seen before include "Monies in a bank or minerals in the ground" , "Despots I find making bank lodgements" , "Lodges in bank" , "Monies left in a bank" , "Lays down-inbank account?" .)