It provides cover when Tom's out for a duck (4)
I believe the answer is:
coat
'duck' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'it provides cover when tom's out for a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is found in the answer.
'a' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'co' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for coat that I've seen before include "Jacket" , "Overgarment" , "Apply layer" , "Outer garment" , "Layer of paint" .)