Serf shifting large ointment (5)
I believe the answer is:
salve
'ointment' is the definition.
(I know that ointment can be written as salve)
'serf shifting large' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'large' could be 'l' (eg in clothes sizes) and 'l' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'save' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for salve that I've seen before include "Healing ointment" , "Soother" , "Soothing cream" , "Ointment from the vales" , "Relieve - ointment" .)