Penny coming in dispatches fritters? (6)
I believe the answer is:
spends
'fritters?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot see how they can define each other.
'penny coming in dispatches' is the wordplay.
'penny' becomes 'p' (short for pence).
'coming in' indicates putting letters inside.
'dispatches' becomes 'sends' (I've seen this in another clue).
'p' inserted into 'sends' is 'SPENDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spends that I've seen before include "Disburses, does not save" , "Uses money or passes time" , "Gives money to pay for goods" , "Pays money or passes time" , "drains" .)