One exacting duty can make me cane six (9)
I believe the answer is:
exciseman
'one exacting duty' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition. I also know that 'duty' relates to this answer.
'make me cane six' is the wordplay.
'make' indicates an anagram.
'me'+'cane'+'six'='mecanesix'
'mecanesix' is an anagram of 'EXCISEMAN'.
'can' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exciseman that I've seen before include "He is given the duty" , "Burns, say" , "Tax official" , "Old customs official" , "former government agent" .)