Barely earns, with "out” (4)
I believe the answer is:
ekes
'barely earns with out' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ekes that I've seen before include "Makes supplies last longer" , "- - out: stretches" , "...out a living, barely makes do" , "Rab C's extras" , "Lengthens (out)" .)