Spots wood east of river (4)
I believe the answer is:
rash
'spots' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'wood east of river' is the wordplay.
'wood' becomes 'ash' (I've seen this before).
'east of' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'river' becomes 'r'.
'ash' put after 'r' is 'RASH'.
(Other definitions for rash that I've seen before include "Ill-advised" , "Outbreak; hasty" , "Impulsive, having skin ailment" , "Daredevil" , "complaint" .)