Replacing the last of the footlights (6)
I believe the answer is:
floats
'footlights' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'replacing the last of' is the wordplay.
'replacing' indicates anagramming the letters (re-placing: placing the letters again).
'last'+'of'='lastof'
'lastof' with letters rearranged gives 'FLOATS'.
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for floats that I've seen before include "Stays on the surface of liquid" , "Stays on the surface of water" , "Rests or drifts on the surface" , "Hovers" , "Carnival wagons" .)