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Somnolent type to tear open vehicle with seafood (3,3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rip van winkle

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'somnolent type' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'tear open vehicle with seafood' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'tear' could be 'rip' (synonyms) and 'rip' is located in the answer.
'vehicle' could be 'van' (van is a kind of vehicle) and 'van' is located in the answer.
'with' could be 'w' (abbreviation) and 'w' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'inkle' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rip van winkle that I've seen before include "Washington Irving hero" , "Big sleeper" , "Someone who sleeps a lot (for 20 years?)" , "Legenday 20-year sleeper (Irving)" , "long kipper" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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