Pale as Patsy may be (5)
I believe the answer is:
pasty
'pale' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'patsy may be' is the wordplay.
'may be' is an anagram indicator.
'patsy' is an anagram of 'PASTY'.
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pasty that I've seen before include "Cornish pie" , "Pallid" , "Savoury turnover" , "Pale" , "little pie" .)