Sustained blow to the face? (8)
I believe the answer is:
headwind
'the face?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'sustained blow' is the wordplay.
'sustained' becomes 'head' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'blow' becomes 'wind'.
'head'+'wind'='HEADWIND'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for headwind that I've seen before include "It blows straight into your face" , "opposing force" , "Stiff breeze blowing directly in front" , "Contrary breeze" , "Current of air blowing into the bow of ship" .)