Sailor sent to quarters for being a defaulter (8)
I believe the answer is:
absentee
'a defaulter' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sailor sent to quarters' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'to quarters' becomes 'ee' (two E's - East is a quarter).
'ab'+'sent'+'ee'='ABSENTEE'
'for being' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for absentee that I've seen before include "One failing to attend" , "One who stays away" , "to prompt a hearty increase in affection!" , "Deserter - truant b" , "He's not here!" .)