Hurtful remark from pub bore, initially (4)
I believe the answer is:
barb
'hurtful remark' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'pub bore initially' is the wordplay.
'pub' becomes 'bar' (I've seen this before).
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'bore' is 'b'.
'bar'+'b'='BARB'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for barb that I've seen before include "Jibe" , "Arrowhead projection" , "Slight" , "Cruel remark" , "criticism" .)