Can be chewed and tattered (3)
I believe the answer is:
rag
'can be' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rag that I've seen before include "Scrap; newspaper (derog.)" , "you lose in temper?" , "Tease" , "Tattered cloth or university romp" , "Scott Joplin composition, for example" .)