Somehow bosun ends making short barrelled pistol (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
snub-nosed
'short barrelled pistol' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'somehow bosun ends' is the wordplay.
'somehow' indicates an anagram.
'bosun'+'ends'='bosunends'
'bosunends' with letters rearranged gives 'SNUB-NOSED'.
'making' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for snub-nosed that I've seen before include "With a short, upturned hooter" , "With a slightly turned-up hooter" , "Retrousse" .)