Whip a ferret through underground passage (8)
I believe the answer is:
catacomb
'underground passage' is the definition.
(a catacomb is an underground cemetery)
'whip a ferret' is the wordplay.
'whip' becomes 'cat' (cat o' nine tails, cat for short is a type of whip).
'ferret' becomes 'comb' (both can mean to search around).
'cat'+'a'+'comb'='CATACOMB'
'through' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for catacomb that I've seen before include "Underground alcoved tunnel for burying the dead" , "tunnel for burial" , "Burial chamber with vaulted tunnels" , "Burial-place" , "cellar" .)