Skilled German retains record (6)
I believe the answer is:
ledger
'record' is the definition.
(I know that ledger is a type of record)
'skilled german retains' is the wordplay.
'retains' indicates a hidden word.
'LEDGER' is hidden in the letters of 'skilled german'.
(Other definitions for ledger that I've seen before include "record-holder" , "Accounting journal" , "In which accounts are entered" , "Business record book" , "Old accounts book" .)