Tug-of-war item (4)
I believe the answer is:
rope
'tug-of-war item' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for rope that I've seen before include "Noose" , "Master of Suspense directed it" , "Maybe tied up in bonds" , "Stranded fastener" , "Cable, cord, hawser" .)