Split ends occasionally spotted, perhaps (4)
I believe the answer is:
pied
'spotted perhaps' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, past participle verbs and adjectives can sometimes mean the same thing.
'split ends occasionally' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' indicates alternate letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'split'+'ends'='splitends'
The alternate letters of 'splitends' are 'PIED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pied that I've seen before include "varying in colour" , "featuring two colours" , "black and white" , "Piper thus portrayed once" , "in various colours" .)