The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word YES-MAN
Y
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a lackey" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a lackey = yes-man.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 YES-MAN mean?
YES-MAN noun- A person who always agrees with their employer or superior.