Son remains firm; starts replicating dustproof window supporter (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
sash cord
'window supporter' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'son remains firm starts replicating dustproof' is the wordplay.
'son' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son).
'remains' becomes 'ash' (remains of a fire).
'firm' becomes 'co' (a firm is a company).
'starts' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'replicating dustproof' is 'rd'.
's'+'ash'+'co'+'rd'='SASH-CORD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sash cord that I've seen before include "Sliding window support" , "Rope supporting sliding window frame" , "Rope in window-frame" , "Opening mechanism" , "Window frame supporter" .)