Cryptic crossword clue
Male, excessively enthusiastic, took first place in patchy style 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word MOTTLED

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
M
O
T
T
L
E
D

Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does MOTTLED mean?

MOTTLED verb
  1. To mark with blotches of different color, or shades of color, as if stained; to spot; to maculate.
MOTTLED adjective
  1. Colored in patches; spotted

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