Dishes fit watertight seals? (9)

I believe the answer is:

tableware

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'dishes fit' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tableware that I've seen before include "Crockery, cutlery, etc." , "knives, etc" , "Bowls, for example" , "Dinner service" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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