The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MOTHBALL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
O
T
H
B
A
L
L
More clues leading to the result MOTHBALL
- See both wandering into shops, identifying store for a later date
- Postpone work on missile attached to plane
- Booksin shopping centre store for a long time
- After uniform disappears from test hub, everything is put into storage
- Entering shopping centre, both bananas put aside for later use
- Postpone event with dancing in the moonlight?
- Postpone work on repellent
- Postpone dance after union’s withdrawn from opening
- Scrap broken hot tub ultimately found in shopping centre
- Breaking into shopping centre, both put away for a long time
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "put away for a long time" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case put away for a long time = mothball.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 MOTHBALL mean?
MOTHBALL noun- (usually in plural) A small ball of chemical pesticide (typically naphthalene) and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold or moth larvae in order to protect them from this damage.
- To store or shelve something no longer used.
- To stop using (something), but keep it in good condition.