The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word OVOID
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
O
V
O
I
D
More clues leading to the result OVOID
- Like an egg base for taco not binding
- Old invalid like Humpty Dumpty
- Starter of duck becoming duck and egg
- Like an egg, but an egg with nothing inside
- Starter of duck becoming duck and egg?
- Ancient poet dressing old, curvy body
- Nothing very old, mind– like the curate’s egg?
- Egg-shaped ball Roman poet catches
- Like Humpty-Dumpty, round and vacant?
- Nothing cancelled – like an egg?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Like Humpty-Dumpty," is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case like humpty-dumpty, = ovoid.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 OVOID mean?
OVOID noun- Something that is oval in shape.
- Shaped like an oval.
- Egg-shaped; shaped like an oval, but more tapered at one end; ovate.