What does the cryptic crossword clue "Protective plate supports gemstone (8)" mean?

The definition is "Protective plate". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). BRAS (synonym="‘supports’") + SARD (synonym="SARD") = BRASSARD; definition: "Protective plate" The answer is BRASSARD.

Protective plate supports gemstone (8)

Guardian Cryptic #29035 | 4 Across | 2023-04-04 flower

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