Crossword Genius

Like a ratty piper (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pied

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'like' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for pied that I've seen before include "Foot over water [in]" , "varying in colour" , "black and white" , "With patches coloured differently" , "featuring two colours" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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