Step about equal, with no first class on ship (8)
I believe the answer is:
steerage
'ship' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'step about equal with no first class' is the wordplay.
'step' becomes 'stage'.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'equal with no first class' becomes 'eer' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stage' enclosing 'eer' is 'STEERAGE'.
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for steerage that I've seen before include "avoided by the "posh" set" , "cheap way to travel" , "Cheapest accommodation aboard ship" , "Cheapest accommodation in old passenger ships" , "main accommodation" .)