Hung about with protective coat, I can enter (7)
I believe the answer is:
tarried
'hung about' is the definition.
(to tarry is to linger or hang around)
'with protective coat i can enter' is the wordplay.
'with protective coat' becomes 'tarred' (protected by a coat of tar).
'can enter' indicates putting letters inside.
'tarred' enclosing 'i' is 'TARRIED'.
(Other definitions for tarried that I've seen before include "briefly remained" , "Lingered, being tardier" , "Delayed in coming or going" , "Loitered" , "Stayed longer than intended" .)