Cryptic crossword clue
A terrific oily mechanic 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ARTIFICER

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
R
T
I
F
I
C
E
R

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "mechanic" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case mechanic = artificer.
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 ARTIFICER mean?

ARTIFICER noun
  1. Someone who is skilled in their trade; an artisan.
  2. An inventor.
  3. A member of the military who specializes in manufacturing and repairing weapon systems.
  4. A trickster.
  5. A savant.

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