Brown makes stale joke (8)
I believe the answer is:
chestnut
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'brown' is the first definition.
(shade of brown)
'stale joke' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
'makes' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for chestnut that I've seen before include "Stale joke or cliche" , "Tree - reddish-brown" , "Dark golden-brown horse" , "Sweet -; horse -; water -" , "Old story" .)