Cryptic crossword clue
Distributed toys less in periods of contraction 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SYSTOLES

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
S
Y
S
T
O
L
E
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "periods of contraction" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case periods of contraction = systoles.
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 SYSTOLES mean?

SYSTOLES noun
  1. The rhythmic contraction of the heart, by which blood is driven through the arteries.
  2. A shortening of a naturally long vowel.

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