Fine service, hard and fast (4-3)
I believe the answer is:
well-set
'fast' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'fine service hard' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'fine' could be 'well' (similar in meaning) and 'well' is found in the answer.
'hard' could be 'set' (similar in meaning) and 'set' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for well-set that I've seen before include "Solidly fixed" , "Firmly established" .)