Buddy getting tiniest bit of nettle cooked outside (6)
I believe the answer is:
friend
'buddy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'tiniest bit of nettle cooked outside' is the wordplay.
'tiniest bit of' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'tiny bit' mean this).
'cooked' becomes 'fried' (frying is a kind of cooking).
'outside' is an insertion indicator.
The first letter of 'nettle' is 'n'.
'n' inserted into 'fried' is 'FRIEND'.
'getting' is the link.
(Other definitions for friend that I've seen before include "China" , "Close associate" , "Quaker - pal" , "Close or intimate acquaintance" , "One you know well and regard with affection" .)