The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word WAPENTAKE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
W
A
P
E
N
T
A
K
E
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 WAPENTAKE mean?
WAPENTAKE noun- An administrative subdivision in northern English counties, developed under Norse influence, and corresponding to hundreds in the rest of England.