Sauntered to dead-ends, played first? (7)
I believe the answer is:
toddled
'sauntered' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with motion as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'to dead-ends played first?' is the wordplay.
'ends' suggests removing the centre.
'played first?' becomes 'led' (I've seen this in another clue).
'dead' with its centre removed is 'dd'.
'to'+'dd'+'led'='TODDLED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for toddled that I've seen before include "As a child went" , "Walked unsteadily" , "Went uncertainly" .)