Contrary convict cut by head of offender here? (4)
I believe the answer is:
gaol
'offender here?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'contrary convict cut by head of' is the wordplay.
'contrary' is a reversal indicator.
'convict' becomes 'lag' (slang term for a prisoner).
'cut by' indicates putting letters inside (some letters cut their way into a word).
'head' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'of' is 'o'.
'lag' going around 'o' is 'loag'.
'loag' in reverse letter order is 'GAOL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gaol that I've seen before include "Prison (British spelling)" , "Alternative to jail" , "Nick" , "See 1" , "stir" .)