Cryptic crossword clue
Mops with sailor on board ship 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SWABS

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
W
A
B
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Mops" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case mops = swabs.
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 SWABS mean?

SWABS noun
  1. A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access.
  2. A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).
  3. A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
  4. A mop, especially on a ship.
  5. A sailor; a swabby.
  6. A naval officer's epaulet.
SWABS verb
  1. To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

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