The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word RASPS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
A
S
P
S
More clues leading to the result RASPS
- Republican, accompanied by venomous types, speaks hoarsely
- Afterthought added to artist’s files
- After tip-off, gets hold of fruit
- Fight back, restricting opening of secret files
- Introduction to Shark, found in upended box files
- Jars of fruit
- Head of school involved in knocks and scrapes
- Starts to roughly apply sand paper, say
- Knocks receiving small scrapes
- God gets special power with the first of several files
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "files" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case files = rasps.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 RASPS mean?
RASPS noun- A coarse file, on which the cutting prominences are distinct points raised by the oblique stroke of a sharp punch, instead of lines raised by a chisel, as on the true file.
- The sound made by this tool when used, or any similar sound.
- To use a rasp.
- To make a noise similar to the one a rasp makes in use; to utter rasps.
- To work something with a rasp.
- To grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language.
- The raspberry.