"Major" animal (4)
I believe the answer is:
ursa
'major animal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ursa that I've seen before include "Bear (constellation)" , "Latin for the Great Bear, . . . . Major" , "- Major, - Minor, prominent constellations" , "stars" , "(In the sky) Major or Minor" .)