The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word LEEWARD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
E
E
W
A
R
D
More clues leading to the result LEEWARD
- Large wife enthralled by a deer moving downwind
- Pull swimmer back downwind
- Haul fish up away from the wind
- Heading to shelter, struggle in city endlessly
- Conflict dividing city mostly on the sheltered side
- Pull swimmer back in sheltered area
- Lure fish over to side away from wind
- Haul fish up with the current
- Pull swimmer around sheltered area
- Lure fish back towards shelter
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "downwind" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case downwind = leeward.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 LEEWARD mean?
LEEWARD adjective- On the side sheltered from the wind; in that direction.
- Away from the direction from which the wind is blowing; downwind.