The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 letter word IMP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
I
M
P
More clues leading to the result IMP
- Naughty child, one occupying seat next to one
- Demon in Mephistopheles personified, originally
- The writer’s potential, at first, for mischief
- Naughty child caught by him, perhaps
- I am papa’s naughty child
- One parliamentarian is a devil
- Devil an individual among many at Westminster?
- Naughty child is much punished, heads revealed
- Rogue is mighty puckish, originally
- Monkey or ape scratching companion
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "naughty child" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case naughty child = imp.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 IMP mean?
IMP noun- A small, mischievous sprite, or a malevolent supernatural creature, somewhat comparable to a demon but smaller and less powerful.
- A mischievous child.
- A baby Tasmanian devil.
- A young shoot of a plant, tree etc.
- A scion, offspring; a child.
- Something added to, or united with, another, to lengthen it out or repair it, such as an addition to a beehive; a feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; or a length of twisted hair in a fishing line.
- To plant or engraft.
- To graft, implant; to set or fix.
- To engraft (feathers) into a bird's wing.
- To eke out, strengthen, enlarge.