Southern Italian explorer giving up cape for shoe (5)
I believe the answer is:
sabot
'for shoe' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'southern italian explorer giving up cape' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'italian explorer' becomes 'cabot' (I've seen this in another clue).
'giving up' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'cape' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used on maps).
'cabot' with 'c' removed is 'abot'.
's'+'abot'='SABOT'
(Other definitions for sabot that I've seen before include "Boast (anag) - shoe" , "footwear from Paris" , "sole support?" , "Simple shoe" , "Boast about wooden shoe" .)