Carlyle maybe covering original matter (4)
I believe the answer is:
ylem
'original matter' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'carlyle maybe covering' is the wordplay.
'covering' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'YLEM' is hidden in the letters of 'carlyle maybe'.
(Other definitions for ylem that I've seen before include "Big Bang material" , "proto-matter, supposedly" , "Substance" , "Original matter" .)