Brown polish for pal (8)
I believe the answer is:
sunshine
'pal' is the definition.
(both are informal terms of address)
'brown polish' is the wordplay.
'brown' becomes 'sun' (both can mean to get a tan).
'polish' becomes 'shine' ('shine' can be a synonym of 'polish').
'sun'+'shine'='SUNSHINE'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for sunshine that I've seen before include "Rays from source of light" , "Is she nun out in the fine weather" , "In US hens is found this light" , "Daily light and warmth" , "Light, cheerfulness" .)