The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LUNCHEONS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
L
U
N
C
H
E
O
N
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "meals" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case meals = luncheons.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 LUNCHEONS mean?
LUNCHEONS noun- A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
- Any midday meal; lunch.
- A lump of food.
- A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.