Salt container bound with cloth (6)
I believe the answer is:
rating
'salt' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'container bound with cloth' is the wordplay.
'container' becomes 'tin' (tin is a kind of container).
'bound with' indicates putting letters inside.
'cloth' becomes 'rag' (rag is a kind of cloth).
'tin' inserted inside 'rag' is 'RATING'.
(Other definitions for rating that I've seen before include "Non-commissioned sailor - classification" , "level" , "Classification assigned to person as, say, for income" , "Lowly naval rank" , "Tar gin for a class of sailor" .)