The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word NIBBLED
N
I
B
B
L
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Took in bits of a course" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case took in bits of a course = nibbled.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 NIBBLED mean?
NIBBLED verb- To eat with small, quick bites.
- To bite lightly.
- To consume gradually.
- To find fault; to cavil.