Rope caught by type of seaman (5)
I believe the answer is:
cable
'rope' is the definition.
(cable is a kind of rope)
'caught by type of seaman' is the wordplay.
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'type of seaman' becomes 'able'.
'c'+'able'='CABLE'
(Other definitions for cable that I've seen before include "Wire, flex" , "Strong thick rope made of twisted hemp or steel wire" , "Telegraph" , "Thick wire; telegram" , "Strong line" .)