Scales down, at the outset, original RAF fund (8)
I believe the answer is:
dandruff
'scales down at the outset original raf fund' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'down at the outset original raf fund' is the wordplay.
'at the outset' says to take the initial letters.
'original' is an anagram indicator.
The initial letter of 'down' is 'd'.
'raf'+'fund'='raffund'
'raffund' is an anagram of 'andruff'.
'd'+'andruff'='DANDRUFF'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dandruff that I've seen before include "Unsightly flakes of dead skin on scalp" , "Unsightly flakes of dead skin in hair" , "shedding scales" , "Condition of the scalp" , "Unsightly flakes falling from scalp" .)