Valet unveiled shiner (6)
I believe the answer is:
lackey
'valet' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'unveiled shiner' is the wordplay.
'unveiled' indicates the central letters (the word's outer letters are taken off).
'shiner' becomes 'blackeye' (synonyms).
The centre of 'blackeye' is 'LACKEY'.
(Other definitions for lackey that I've seen before include "An old servant or slavish person" , "assistant" , "An archaic servant or servile follower" , "tool" , "Old footman or servile follower" .)