The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word PIED
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
I
E
D
More clues leading to the result PIED
- Small flat pastry with fruit? Sin coming up!
- Colourful mixed type
- In US capital, partner’s dwelling used occasionally
- Like four-and-twenty blackbirds? And magpies!
- Pad retiree disposed of?
- A Parisian’s foothold in the property market?
- Frenchman embracing girlfriend's home from home?
- About to chase rare bird, one seeing another nest?
- Frenchman welcoming escort’s bijou accommodation
- Was an agent, beheaded for being more than one colour
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Colourful/mixed type" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case colourful/mixed type = pied.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 PIED mean?
PIED adjective- Having two or more colors, especially black and white.
- Decorated or colored in blotches.
- To spill or mix printing type.
- To hit in the face with a pie, either for comic effect or as a means of protest (see also pieing).
- To go around (a corner) in a guarded manner.
- (of printing types) To reduce to confusion; to jumble.