The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ACETABULA
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result ACETABULA
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "depressions in hip area" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case depressions in hip area = acetabula.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 ACETABULA mean?
ACETABULA noun- The bony cup of the pelvis which receives the head of the femur.
- The cavity in which the leg of an insect is inserted at its articulation with the body.
- A sucker of the sepia or cuttlefish and related animals.
- The large posterior sucker of the leeches.
- One of the lobes of the placenta in ruminating animals.
- (Roman Antiquities) A vinegar cup.
- (Roman Antiquities) The socket of the hipbone.
- (Roman Antiquities) A measure of about one eighth of a pint.