Stops, oddly, and signals distress (3)
I believe the answer is:
sos
'signals distress' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'stops oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
The alternate letters of 'stops' are 'SOS'.
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sos that I've seen before include "Distress call" , "International distress code" , "Help code in 13 Across" , "Mayday call" , "Coded distress signal" .)