Musk from initially elusive civet horribly rank (7)
I believe the answer is:
echelon
'rank' is the definition.
(I know that echelon is a type of rank)
'musk from initially' is the wordplay.
'musk' becomes 'Elon' (Elon Musk).
'from' becomes 'ech' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'initially' says to put letters next to each other (some letters go before others).
'elon' put after 'ech' is 'ECHELON'.
'elusive civet horribly' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for echelon that I've seen before include "Wedge-shaped formation of troops" , "position in society" , "Military formation; level of society" , "Echo Len (anag.)" , "Level or rank in a group" .)