The "sheet" in "three sheets to the wind" (4)
I believe the answer is:
rope
'the sheet in three sheets to the wind' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for rope that I've seen before include "Hitch" , "Guy" , "Strong line" , "Give a man enough . . . . and he'll hang himself" , "String of pearls, say" .)