Female creature scoffing last of quarry, a predator (5)
I believe the answer is:
hyena
'predator' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'female creature scoffing last of quarry a' is the wordplay.
'female creature' becomes 'hen' (hen is a kind of creature. I am not sure about the 'female' bit.**).
'scoffing' indicates putting letters inside.
'last of' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'quarry' is 'y'.
'hen' enclosing 'y' is 'hyen'.
'hyen'+'a'='HYENA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hyena that I've seen before include "one to laugh" , "African canine" , "he's a laugh" , "African wild dog" , "Afr. doglike carnivore" .)