The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word CRAG
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
R
A
G
More clues leading to the result CRAG
- Lump of rock caught piece of cloth
- Bluff chap’s first kid
- Caught by tabloid’s bluff
- Cliff or Charlie taking Joplin piece, but Douglas rejecting one
- Bluff waiter, on being dismissed, retires
- Leader to call newspaper’s bluff
- Two metallic elements in minimal supply in rock
- Bluff when caught by practical joke
- Conservative newspaper makes rough projection
- Conservative taunt or bluff
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "rough projection" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rough projection = crag.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 CRAG mean?
CRAG noun- A rocky outcrop; a rugged steep rock or cliff.
- A rough broken fragment of rock.
- A partially compacted bed of gravel mixed with shells, of the Tertiary age.
- The neck or throat.