Members backing means of corporal punishment (5)
I believe the answer is:
strap
'members backing' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'of corporal punishment' is the wordplay.
'of corporal' becomes 'st' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'punishment' becomes 'rap' (I've seen this before).
'st'+'rap'='STRAP'
'means' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for strap that I've seen before include "Shoulder band" , "Parts of a leather band" , "Elongated leather strip" , "punishment in school" , "something to hang on to" .)