Star's path originally followed by sailor adrift (7)
I believe the answer is:
polaris
'star's' is the definition.
(Polaris is an example)
'path originally followed by sailor adrift' is the wordplay.
'originally' indicates taking the first letters.
'followed by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'adrift' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'path' is 'p'.
'sailor' anagrammed gives 'olaris'.
'p'+'olaris'='POLARIS'
(Other definitions for polaris that I've seen before include "star (non-movie)" , "North Star - missile" , "Star near the N pole of the heavens" , "Star useful for navigation" , "weapon sailors unleash" .)