Cryptic crossword clue
Navigator’s enthralling hunt for swells 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word COXCOMBS

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
C
O
X
C
O
M
B
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "swells" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case swells = coxcombs.
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 COXCOMBS mean?

COXCOMBS noun
  1. The cap of a court jester, adorned with a red stripe.
  2. The fleshy red pate of a rooster.
  3. (by extension) A foolish or conceited person; a dandy.

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