Stump (4)
I believe the answer is:
stub
'stump' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for stub that I've seen before include "Short piece left over" , "this pollution by smoker?" , "Counterfoil of cheque, receipt etc" , "Truncated remnant" , "Counterfoil of cheque or butt of cigarette" .)