The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word GUNPOWDER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
G
U
N
P
O
W
D
E
R
More clues leading to the result GUNPOWDER
- Explosive force catching duke on arm
- Rev might, after inviting duke in for tea
- Rod might drink daughter’s tea
- Gelignite initially captive entered under explosive
- Plot that failed? Good: prisoner taken in below
- Shoot prisoner backing communist plot having used this?
- Explosive stuff in magazine
- Sort of tea that goes with bangers?
- Explosive stuff seen in magazine?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Explosive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case explosive = gunpowder.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 GUNPOWDER mean?
GUNPOWDER noun- An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulphur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.
- Short for gunpowder tea.