Badger used to rat, disconcerted (9)

I believe the answer is:

outstared

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'badger' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'used to rat disconcerted' is the wordplay.
'disconcerted' indicates anagramming the letters.
'used'+'to'+'rat'='usedtorat'
'usedtorat' is an anagram of 'OUTSTARED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for outstared that I've seen before include "forced to look elsewhere?" , "Locked longer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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