Stable chaps but apparently irritable ones (9)
'stable chaps but apparently' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'irritable ones' is the wordplay.
'irritable' becomes 'livery' (livery can mean irritable due to a liver problem).
'ones' becomes 'man' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'livery'+'man'='LIVERYMAN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for liveryman that I've seen before include "Member of a City Company" , "Member of guild" , "Uniformed servant" , "One looking after hacks" .)
'apparently irritable ones' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'stable chaps' is the wordplay.
'stable' becomes 'livery stable' (livery stable is a kind of stable).
'chaps' becomes 'men' (chap can mean a man).
'livery'+'men'='LIVERYMEN'
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for liverymen that I've seen is " Members of company".)