Crossword Genius

Pale when chicken (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ashen

'pale' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'when chicken' is the wordplay.
'when' becomes 'as' (eg 'when I walked' means 'as I walked').
'chicken' becomes 'hen' (hen is a kind of chicken).
'as'+'hen'='ASHEN'

(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "(Of face) pale (with shock)" , "Greyish" , "Visibly shocked" , "of Tree" , "Grey-faced" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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