Letters penned by dilettante, a lazy dabbler (4)
I believe the answer is:
teal
'letters' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'penned by dilettante a lazy dabbler' is the wordplay.
'penned by' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'TEAL' is hidden in the letters of 'dilettante a lazy dabbler'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for teal that I've seen before include "Small river duck" , "Small, short-necked duck" , "bird" , "Raise (subject matter)" , "Species of duck" .)