Gold fabric (4)
I believe the answer is:
lame
'gold fabric' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for lame that I've seen before include "(Of an excuse) unconvincingly feeble" , "Hobbling" , "Flimsy, as an excuse" , "Feeble; cripple" , "Crippled" .)