Supports what you lose when you're lost (8)
I believe the answer is:
bearings
'supports' is the definition.
(bearing is a kind of support)
'you lose when you're lost' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'when' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'barings' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'what' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bearings that I've seen before include "specific location" , "Direction relative to N." , "Moving parts; directions" , "Part of machine" , "Ivan -, Russian author" .)