Cry about novice, an uncouth individual (4)
I believe the answer is:
slob
'an uncouth individual' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'cry about novice' is the wordplay.
'cry' becomes 'sob' (sobbing is a kind of crying).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'novice' becomes 'L' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'sob' going around 'l' is 'SLOB'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for slob that I've seen before include "Slovenly person (colloq.)" , "'Slovenly, messy person (4)'" , "Boor" , "Fat, idle person" , "Fat, idle type" .)