Eccentric copper thus vacationing (7)
I believe the answer is:
offbeat
'eccentric' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'copper thus vacationing' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'vacationing' could be 'off' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'off' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'beat' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for offbeat that I've seen before include "Unusual, not ordinary - or rhythmic" , "Bohemian" , "Wacky; syncopated" , "Unusual or unconventional - perhaps in music" , "Quirky" .)