Exotic bit of verse could go oddly astray (6)
I believe the answer is:
escudo
'exotic bit' is the definition.
(currency of multiple foreign countries)
'verse could go oddly astray' is the wordplay.
'oddly astray' means one should take alternating letters (odd-numbered letters get removed).
'verse'+'could'+'go'='versecouldgo'
The alternate letters of 'versecouldgo' are 'ESCUDO'.
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for escudo that I've seen before include "Former Portuguese currency unit" , "Portugal's unit of money" , "Former Portuguese coin" , "Former currency of Portugal" , "Unit of Portuguese money" .)