Toad's characteristic associate? (3)
I believe the answer is:
rat
This clue might be a double definition.
'toad's' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'characteristic associate?' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rat that I've seen before include "Scumbag" , "Destructive rodent" , "one who deserts the sinking ship?" , "Rodent; traitor" , "one not going down with ship" .)