Hot under the collar attorney fails to get one? (5)
I believe the answer is:
ratty
'hot' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ratty that I've seen before include "One messing about in a boat" , "character on the river bank" , "Characteristic of pest" , "his friend being a dangerous driver" , "Moley's friend" .)