Windlass disturbed catnaps (7)
I believe the answer is:
capstan
'windlass' is the definition.
(capstan is a kind of windlass)
'disturbed catnaps' is the wordplay.
'disturbed' indicates an anagram.
'catnaps' with letters rearranged gives 'CAPSTAN'.
(Other definitions for capstan that I've seen before include "revolver" , "item of winding gear" , "boat's winding gear" , "Cylinder for winding ropes/cables" , "Device winding in rope" .)