What sailors caught, close to divers with the bends? (6)
I believe the answer is:
scurvy
'bends?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scurvy that I've seen before include "Disease caused by lack of vitamin C" , "Lime-juice prevented it" , "Whoreson" , "Disease due to lack of vitamin C" , "(Of a knave) contemptible!" .)