The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CAPTAIN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
A
P
T
A
I
N
More clues leading to the result CAPTAIN
- Skipper can set about article after international award
- US police officer acceptable to probe murderer
- Who went to the land of Nod hugging fit old man?
- Officer liable to be taken in by murderer
- Cook, perhaps, better back at home
- Military officer to beat volunteers with it
- Skipper in headgear can set about one
- Officer having better army home
- Leader‘s fitting in the third person
- One takes charge of contraceptive method used on Tina Turner
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Cook, perhaps" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cook, perhaps = captain.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 CAPTAIN mean?
CAPTAIN noun- A chief or leader.
- The person lawfully in command of a ship or other vessel.
- An army officer with a rank between the most senior grade of lieutenant and major.
- A naval officer with a rank between commander and commodore.
- A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Coast Guard, NOAA Corps, or PHS Corps of a grade superior to a commander and junior to a rear admiral (lower half). A captain is equal in grade or rank to an Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force colonel.
- One of the athletes on a sports team who is designated to make decisions, and is allowed to speak for his team with a referee or official.
- The leader of a group of workers.
- The head boy of a school.
- A maître d', a headwaiter.
- An honorific title given to a prominent person. See colonel.
- To act as captain
- To exercise command of a ship, aircraft or sports team.