Rent to some sailors (4)
I believe the answer is:
torn
'rent' is the definition.
('torn' can be a synonym of 'rent')
'to some sailors' is the wordplay.
'some sailors' becomes 'rn' (abbreviation for Royal Navy**).
'to'+'rn'='TORN'
(Other definitions for torn that I've seen before include "Ragged" , "Undecided between two" , "In a state of uncertainty between two conflicting options" , "Lacerated - in two minds" , "?Curtain (Hitchcock thriller)" .)