Small handful (4)
I believe the answer is:
brat
'small handful' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for brat that I've seen before include "A spoiled badly-behaved child" , "child - that's a nuisance" , "Irritating youngster" , "Marie ---, birth-control pioneer" , "Unpleasant youngster" .)