Hapless one (5)
![Ross](/clue/static/ross-mug.min.png)
I believe the answer is:
schmo
'hapless one' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for schmo that I've seen before include "Boring American" , "Fool (Yiddish)" , "Inept person (US_informal)" , "jerk" , "clot" .)