The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word OCTANT
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
O
C
T
A
N
T
More clues leading to the result OCTANT
- Soldier possibly supporting old court sector
- 45 degrees required to get brown in a month
- Measuring device‘s function discovered in time
- Navigator’s bit of kit to turn brown within 31 days
- Month needed by worker to produce instrument
- Part of a circle social worker joined at end of month
- Soak up sun in autumn month — it’s 45 degrees
- Month to get brown in 45 degrees
- Circle with constant tangent that’s origin for one of its segments
- Worker after one month gets measuring device
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Measuring device" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case measuring device = octant.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 OCTANT mean?
OCTANT noun- The eighth part of a circle; an arc of 45 degrees.
- The aspect of two planets that are 45°, or one-eighth of a circle, apart.
- The eighth part of a disc; a sector of 45 degrees; half a quadrant.
- An instrument for measuring angles, particularly of elevation.