The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PRIE-DIEU
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
R
I
E
-
D
I
E
U
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PRIE-DIEU mean?
PRIE-DIEU noun- A piece of furniture on which someone can pray, consisting of a cushioned area to kneel on, with a built-in ledge for books.