Stopping for a smaller number of sheep (3)
I believe the answer is:
ewe
'sheep' is the definition.
(a ewe is a female sheep)
'stopping for a smaller number' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'number' could be 'e' (e is a kind of number) and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'we' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ewe that I've seen before include "Partner to ram" , "Wool producer" , "Directions" , "creature" , "Sheep found in sewer" .)