The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word MAINTENANCE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
More clues leading to the result MAINTENANCE
- Number joining party for Africans in US state care
- Support me at an inn, playing before church
- Running pipe to dodgy canteen
- Support ‘X’ ban initially ignored in refurbished cinema
- Inane men act badly? Get support!
- Awfully ancient men securing a means of support
- Carrying on, Mother gets canteen in uproar
- Principal canteen in a mess for repairs
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "means of support" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case means of support = maintenance.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 MAINTENANCE mean?
MAINTENANCE noun- Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.
- A tort committed when a third party who does not have a bona fide interest in a lawsuit provides help or acquires an interest to a litigant's lawsuit.
- Alimony, a periodical payment or a lump sum made or ordered to be made to a spouse after a divorce.
- Child support.
- Money required or spent to provide for the needs of a person or a family.
- The natural process which keeps an organism alive.