Barely manages, with "out" (4)
I believe the answer is:
ekes
'barely manages 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 "- - out: stretches" , "Lengthens (out)" , "Makes supplies last longer" , "...out a living, barely makes do" , "Rab C's extras" .)