The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word HANDKERCHIEF
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
H
A
N
D
K
E
R
C
H
I
E
F
More clues leading to the result HANDKERCHIEF
- Disturbing a French kid he produces a nose rag
- Long to dress daughter with outstanding accessory
- Cloth handbag at first could be ranked most important
- Piece of cloth worker presented to King and Queen first
- Stuffy beak might benefit from it?
- Worker and boss protecting king and queen — one receives a blow
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Cloth" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cloth = handkerchief.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 HANDKERCHIEF mean?
HANDKERCHIEF noun- A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face, eyes, nose or hands.
- A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief or neckcloth.