Kilts, once mended, are bound together with strong ties (5-4)
I believe the answer is:
close-knit
'bound together with strong ties' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs sometimes mean the same thing.
'kilts once mended' is the wordplay.
'mended' is an anagram indicator.
'kilts'+'once'='kiltsonce'
'kiltsonce' anagrammed gives 'CLOSE-KNIT'.
'are' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for close-knit that I've seen before include "Bound by strong ties" , "Bound together as by family ties" , "No tickles, being woven tightly" , "Tightly bound together" , "Bound together by strong relationships" .)