Traitor repeatedly turning tail, the rotter (6)
I believe the answer is:
tartar
'rotter' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'traitor repeatedly turning tail' is the wordplay.
'traitor repeatedly' can mean two substitutions for 'traitor'.
'traitor' becomes 'rat' (rat can mean a treacherous person).
'traitor' becomes 'rat' (rat can mean a treacherous person).
'turning tail' says the letters should be written backwards.
'rat'+'rat'='ratrat'
'ratrat' backwards is 'TARTAR'.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tartar that I've seen before include "She terrifies" , "Cold sauce, popular with fish" , "Fearsome person: kind of sauce" , "plaque" , "ancient Mongolian" .)