Cryptic crossword clue
Layabout hit sentry out of uniform 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SLUGGARD

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
L
U
G
G
A
R
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Layabout" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case layabout = sluggard.
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 SLUGGARD mean?

SLUGGARD noun
  1. A person who is lazy, stupid, or idle by habit.
  2. A person slow to begin necessary work, a slothful person.
  3. A fearful or cowardly person, a poltroon.

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