The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SPUTTER
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result SPUTTER
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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 SPUTTER mean?
SPUTTER noun- Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles.
- Confused and hasty speech.
- To emit saliva or spit from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
- To speak so rapidly as to emit saliva; to utter words hastily and indistinctly, with a spluttering sound, as in rage.
- To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.
- To cause surface atoms or electrons of a solid to be ejected by bombarding it with heavy atoms or ions.
- To coat the surface of an object by sputtering.