Clue: Before marriage, give permission briefly to accept daughter's hand (6)
Answer: NEEDLE
Explanation: Definition: hand
definition: a NEEDLE or a "hand" can be a pointer on a dial or a clock 
NEE + LE, around D (daughter)
 
NEE=Née (describing a name one was born with, "Before marriage")
 
LE is LE-t="give permission briefly"