Sailor getting short at the centre, can't stand (5)
I believe the answer is:
abhor
'can't stand' is the definition.
(if you abhor something you can't stand it)
'sailor getting short at the centre' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'getting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'at the centre' says to take the centre.
The middle letters of 'short' are 'hor'.
'ab'+'hor'='ABHOR'
(Other definitions for abhor that I've seen before include "Regard with repugnance" , "can't stand" , "Not like" , "Can't bear" , "Hate or dislike intensely" .)