Recycled ropes - used many at first beside tree (5)
I believe the answer is:
oakum
'recycled ropes used many at first beside tree' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'used many at first beside tree' is the wordplay.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
'beside' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'tree' becomes 'oak' (oak is a type of tree).
The initial letters of 'used many' is 'um'.
'um' after 'oak' is 'OAKUM'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oakum that I've seen before include "What convicts used to pick" , "One hand-picked" , "Tarred ropes teased out for caulking ships" , "Fibre from unravelled old rope" , "Rope fibre for caulking wooden ships" .)