They mark time (9)
I believe the answer is:
calendars
'they' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for calendars that I've seen before include "Lists of days, weeks, months" , "Tabular arrays of days" .)