Swallows perhaps settle nose to tail (4)
I believe the answer is:
eats
'swallows' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eats that I've seen before include "corrodes" , "Ingests" , "Grazes perhaps" , "Munches" , "Food (colloq.)" .)