The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ZENANAS
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "ladies' quarters" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ladies' quarters = zenanas.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 ZENANAS mean?
ZENANAS noun- A harem on the Indian subcontinent; a part of the house reserved for high-caste women; a system of segregating women into harems.
- An effeminate or crossdressing male in northern India or Pakistan. (Also spelled zanána.)