Ship -- clipper, perhaps (6)
I believe the answer is:
cutter
This clue is a double definition.
'ship' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'clipper perhaps' is the second definition.
(clipper is a kind of cutter)
(Other definitions for cutter that I've seen before include "A scissors, say, or a small ship" , "One downsizing" , "Small sailing ship or a knife" , "Knife etc - sailing ship" , "Sailing vessel" .)