The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word PENTAMETER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
E
N
T
A
M
E
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result PENTAMETER
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "part of 18’s work" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case part of 18’s work = pentameter.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 PENTAMETER mean?
PENTAMETER noun- A line in a poem having five metrical feet.
- Poetic metre in which each line has five feet.