The case of the blackleg poet (8)
I believe the answer is:
scabbard
'the case' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'the blackleg poet' is the wordplay.
'the blackleg' becomes 'scab' ('scab' can be a synonym of 'blackleg').
'poet' becomes 'bard' (bard is a kind of poet).
'scab'+'bard'='SCABBARD'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for scabbard that I've seen before include "foil cover?" , "foil container?" , "Sheath for sword or dagger" , "Weapon held here" , "that carries a sword" .)