Trickery from monkey scratching rear (4)
I believe the answer is:
scam
'trickery' is the definition.
'monkey scratching rear' is the wordplay.
'monkey' becomes 'scamp' (both can mean a mischievous child).
'scratching rear' means to remove the last letter (the letter at the rear of the word is removed).
'scamp' with its final letter taken away is 'SCAM'.
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for scam that I've seen before include "Swindle (sl.)" , "Dodgy business" , "rook" , "'A con, deception (4)'" , "Fraudulent scheme, swindle" .)