What does the cryptic crossword clue "Ship's access to fresh water you'd say level with strand (8)" mean?

The wordplay uses a homophone (sounds like). Homophone (you’d say) of TIED (level, as in a football game “tied at 2-2”), then LOCK (a strand of hair). Lock = an access gate for a ship or boat between two bodies of water; tide lock = one between sea water and fresh water. The answer is TIDELOCK.

Ship's access to fresh water you'd say level with strand (8)

Independent Cryptic #11742 | 26 Across | 2024-05-29 flower

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