Skills from sailor -- one initially learning intricate knots (9)
I believe the answer is:
abilities
'skills' is the definition.
(skill can mean an ability)
'sailor one initially learning intricate knots' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'knots' becomes 'ties' (I've seen this in another clue).
The first letters of 'learning intricate' is 'li'.
'ab'+'i'+'li'+'ties'='ABILITIES'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for abilities that I've seen before include "The powers to do" , "Talents" , "skills" .)