Perhaps automatic starter sounded buff (5)
I believe the answer is:
khaki
'buff' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for khaki that I've seen before include "Military clothes" , "Sand-coloured" , "Military fabric/colour" , "Olive drab" , "buff" .)