The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 4 letter word FIG LEAF
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
F
I
G
L
E
A
F
More clues leading to the result FIG LEAF
- Means to cover certain parts of diagram with thumb
- Privates are behind this English flag, if ordered
- Surprisingly agile in very loud minimal clothing
- A bit of foliage affording privates cover?
- It covered what cockneys believe …
- Agile moving around, fine fellow covers it with – not much really!
- Early form of cover in garden?
- Abbreviated symbol on page, very basic cover
- First gear
- The two forward units in field gladly earmark bit of forest where privates can find cover
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Means to cover" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case means to cover = fig leaf.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 FIG LEAF mean?
FIG LEAF noun- A leaf of the fig plant.
- A representation of leaf of a fig plant used to cover the genitals of a nude figure in a work of art (alluding to Genesis iii 7, in which Adam and Eve use fig leaves to hide their nakedness).
- Anything used to conceal something undesirable or that one does not want to be discovered.