Inapt sort of coat (5)
I believe the answer is:
paint
'coat' is the definition.
(I know that paint is a type of coat)
'inapt sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates an anagram.
'inapt' is an anagram of 'PAINT'.
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for paint that I've seen before include "Pigment" , "Item used by 23 Across" , "A pint of liquid decoration" , "Colouring matter for decoration" , "Catch a likeness" .)