Fellows clownishly made up (8)

I believe the answer is:

pierrots

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'fellows' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for pierrots that I've seen before include "Rips tore up the puppet clowns" , "Characters in French pantomime, usually dressed in white with whitened faces" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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