Top cop covers up weird tattoos (5)
I believe the answer is:
drums
'tattoos' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'top cop covers up weird' is the wordplay.
'top cop' becomes 'ds' (Detective Sergeant. I am not sure about the 'top' bit.).
'covers up' indicates putting letters inside.
'weird' becomes 'rum' (rum can mean strange).
'ds' placed around 'rum' is 'DRUMS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drums that I've seen before include "Percussion instruments" , "Containers" .)