Open above the head (5)
I believe the answer is:
overt
'open' is the definition.
(associated in meaning)
'above the head' is the wordplay.
'above' becomes 'over' (I've seen this before).
'head' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'the' is 't'.
'over'+'t'='OVERT'
(Other definitions for overt that I've seen before include "Explicit" , "not disguised" , "Clear" , "Open and candid" , "Open, not 1 across" .)