Workman with the French name (6)
I believe the answer is:
handle
'name' is the definition.
'workman with the french' is the wordplay.
'workman' becomes 'hand' (hand is a kind of workman).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the french' becomes 'le'.
'hand'+'le'='HANDLE'
(Other definitions for handle that I've seen before include "Feel or manipulate" , "Deal with; name (colloq.)" , "Control - deal with - write about" , "Part by which something is held" , "Touch - deal with" .)