Thus might mum place order for some linen (6)
I believe the answer is:
damask
'linen' is the definition.
(I know that damask is a type of table linen)
'thus might mum place order for some' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'mum' could be 'ma' (ma can mean mother) and 'ma' is found within the answer.
'some' could be 'a' and 'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for damask that I've seen before include "Lustrous cloth" , "Type of table linen" , "A silk fabric" , "Rich, heavy fabric with a pattern woven into it, a tablecloth say" , "Reversible fabric - type of rose" .)