While tough, Hal gets beaten (8)
I believe the answer is:
although
'while' is the definition.
('although' can mean 'while' or 'yet')
'tough hal gets beaten' is the wordplay.
'gets beaten' is an anagram indicator.
'tough'+'hal'='toughhal'
'toughhal' anagrammed gives 'ALTHOUGH'.
(Other definitions for although that I've seen before include "Apart from the fact that" , "Despite the fact that (8)" , "Whilst" , "Notwithstanding" , "Yet" .)