Noel came up in the finish, like a lion (7)
I believe the answer is:
leonine
'like a lion' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'noel came up in the finish' is the wordplay.
'came up' is a reversal indicator (I've seen 'come up' mean this).
'finish' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'noel' reversed gives 'leon'.
'leon'+'in'+'e'='LEONINE'
(Other definitions for leonine that I've seen before include "Like a wild animal" , "Relating to a carnivore or to certain popes" , "Papal" , "Resembling lions" , "Resembling a big cat" .)