Desert sometimes washed by the sea (6)
I believe the answer is:
strand
This clue is a double definition.
'desert' is the first definition.
(I know that strand is a more specific form of the action desert)
'sometimes washed by the sea' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
(Other definitions for strand that I've seen before include "sometimes washed by the sea" , "Beach - desert" , "Thread - abandon" , "Maroon - bit of hair" , "Leave in helpless position" .)