Pale sort of spring (4)
I believe the answer is:
leap
'spring' is the definition.
(both can mean to jump)
'pale sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' is an anagram indicator.
'pale' anagrammed gives 'LEAP'.
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for leap that I've seen before include "Jump across" , "as 1984 was" , "some years?" , "Jump, spring" , "Spring suddenly" .)