I’d earn tips without defending fallow spell (8)

I believe the answer is:

idleness

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'fallow spell' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'i'd earn tips without defending' is the wordplay.
'tips' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (just the outer letters of the world).
'without' becomes 'less' (I've seen this in another clue).
'defending' is an insertion indicator.
'earn' with its centre taken out is 'en'.
'en' placed inside 'less' is 'leness'.
'id'+'leness'='IDLENESS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for idleness that I've seen before include "Laziness" , "State of doing nothing" , "Sloth - there may be love in it" , "Send lies (anag.)" , "Reluctance to work" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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