The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word GRAVING
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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 GRAVING mean?
GRAVING verb- To dig.
- To carve or cut, as letters or figures, on some hard substance; to engrave.
- To carve out or give shape to, by cutting with a chisel; to sculpture.
- To impress deeply (on the mind); to fix indelibly.
- To entomb; to bury.
- To write or delineate on hard substances, by means of incised lines; to practice engraving.
- To clean, as a vessel's bottom, of barnacles, grass, etc., and pay it over with pitch — so called because graves or greaves was formerly used for this purpose.
- The act of cleaning a ship's bottom.
- An engraving.