The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word MISSY
M
I
S
S
Y
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "small girl" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case small girl = missy.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 MISSY mean?
MISSY noun- A young female, or miss; as a term of mild disparagement, typically used jokingly or rebukingly.
- Girlish; effeminate; sentimental.
- Of, or pertaining to, female clothing or clothing sizes.
- An impure yellow sulphate of iron; yellow copperas or copiapite.