Colourless layer on fringe of arras (5)
I believe the answer is:
ashen
'colourless' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'layer on fringe of arras' is the wordplay.
'layer' becomes 'hen' (animal which lays eggs).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'fringe of' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (I've seen 'fringes of' mean this).
'arras' with its middle taken out is 'as'.
'hen' after 'as' is 'ASHEN'.
(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "Pale (with shock/illness)" , "pale in colour" , "Grey, pallid" , "Wan - wooden - pallid" , "Looking pale from illness" .)