US inventor who gave us a lift? (4)
I believe the answer is:
otis
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'us inventor' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'who gave us a lift?' is the second definition.
(Elisha Otis, inventor who worked on elevators)
(Other definitions for otis that I've seen before include "Lift man" , "Cole Porter's miss who was "unable to lunch today"" , "lift company" , "Place of worship; side part of head" , "---- Redding, 1941-67, soul singer" .)