The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word TENON
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
E
N
O
N
More clues leading to the result TENON
- Retired musical group's section of joint
- Join group that's on the rise
- Bit of a joint that's eaten only if edges have been trimmed
- Bit of a joint eaten once, middle portion
- Part of joint music group going north
- Endlessly intoned, rambling in wooden tongue
- Figure running joint
- Joint‘s connective tissue died away
- Joint group of musicians set up
- Saw start of Boris’s address? Touching!
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Bit of a joint" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case bit of a joint = tenon.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 TENON mean?
TENON noun- A projecting member left by cutting away the wood around it, and made to insert into a mortise, and in this way secure together the parts of a frame.
- To make into a tenon.
- To fit with tenons.