Backwater with many a smell (5)
I believe the answer is:
creek
'backwater' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'with many a smell' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'many' becomes 'c' (C is the Roman numeral for 100).
'a smell' becomes 'reek' (reek is a kind of smell).
'c'+'reek' is 'CREEK'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for creek that I've seen before include "Cove" , "Narrow inlet from the sea" , "(In the UK) inlet - (elsewhere) stream" , "Narrow waterway" , "Up the .....; in difficulties, and wet?" .)