Small lock and key finally oiled? (7)
I believe the answer is:
squiffy
'oiled?' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'small lock and key finally' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'lock' becomes 'quiff' (I have seen 'Lock of hair ' mean 'quiff' so perhaps 'lock' could also mean 'quiff').
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'finally' indicates one should take the final letters.
The final letter of 'key' is 'y'.
's'+'quiff'+'y'='SQUIFFY'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for squiffy that I've seen before include "Slightly inebriated" , "Tiddly" , "Slightly tipsy" , "Smashed" , "Slightly drunk" .)