Friend mostly ashen-faced (3)
I believe the answer is:
pal
'friend' is the definition.
(I know that pal is a type of friend)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pal that I've seen before include "Close friend" , "Brother" , "Crony" , "Friend (colloq.)" , "Bud" .)