Revolutionary chum has fits of temper and flaps (7)
I believe the answer is:
lappets
'flaps' is the definition.
(I know this)
'revolutionary chum has fits of temper' is the wordplay.
'revolutionary' is a reversal indicator (letters revolve around).
'chum' becomes 'pal' (both can mean a friend).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'fits of temper' becomes 'pets' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pal' written backwards gives 'lap'.
'lap'+'pets'='LAPPETS'
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for lappets that I've seen is " These hang round".)