The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word TARTAN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
A
R
T
A
N
More clues leading to the result TARTAN
- Defector from Scottish party returning her dress?
- Sculptures possibly in bronze material
- Times article about a rare material
- Scottish design nationalist renegade rejected
- Singer making comeback with hit material
- Fabric for belt requires input of skill
- Plaid, something black and brown
- Modernist art animation with a distinctive check pattern
- First-time architect rashly tries a new design
- Material, sweet and short!
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "with a distinctive check pattern" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case with a distinctive check pattern = tartan.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 TARTAN mean?
TARTAN noun- A kind of woven woollen cloth with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles, associated with Scottish Highlanders, different clans having their own distinctive patterns.
- The pattern associated with such material.
- An individual or a group wearing tartan; a Highlander or Scotsman in general.
- Trade name of a synthetic resin, used for surfacing tracks etc.
- To clothe in tartan.
- Having a pattern like a tartan.
- Scottish.
- A type of one-masted vessel used in the Mediterranean.
- A kind of long covered carriage.