They stop short rest periods, one hears (6)

I believe the answer is:

brakes

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'they stop' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for brakes that I've seen before include "In a way, stops" , "carriages" , "Apply them to slow down" , "They work to slow a vehicle" , "Vehicle's stopping mechanism" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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