The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word INTIMATES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
I
N
T
I
M
A
T
E
S
More clues leading to the result INTIMATES
- Hints from close friends
- Suggests it’s raised among prisoners
- Popular friends welcoming occasionally staid friends
- Prisoners keeping it up for friends
- Suggests prisoners should swallow note
- Informs freely, at times follows home
- Alludes to convicts holding up Italian
- Hints from prisoners about this, oddly
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Hints/close friends" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hints/close friends = intimates.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 INTIMATES mean?
INTIMATES noun- A very close friend.
- (in plural intimates) Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.
- To suggest or disclose (something) discreetly.
- To notify.