Sound shortened in shout to encourage Maurice? (9)
I believe the answer is:
chevalier
'maurice?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'sound shortened in shout' is the wordplay.
'sound shortened' becomes 'vali' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'shout' becomes 'cheer' (I've seen this before).
'vali' inserted into 'cheer' is 'CHEVALIER'.
'to encourage' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chevalier that I've seen before include "French actor and singer" , "Gallant French" , "Each viler than the strange knight" , "French fighter" , "Knight, gallant" .)