The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CORPORAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
C
O
R
P
O
R
A
L
More clues leading to the result CORPORAL
- My friend entertaining soldiers is one of them?
- Type of punishment for NCO
- Army section's brief exam for NCO
- Soldier in company wanting ‘proper speech’ spoken
- Petty officer material
- Soldier describes one form of punishment
- Officer‘s punishment is substantial
- Non-commissioned officer material
- NCO regarding body
- Man in charge of section of the body
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Non-commissioned officer/material" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case non-commissioned officer/material = corporal.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 CORPORAL mean?
CORPORAL adjective- Having a physical, tangible body; material, corporeal.
- Of or pertaining to the body, especially the human body; bodily.
- Pertaining to the body (the thorax and abdomen), as distinguished from the head, limbs and wings, etc.
- A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code OR-4. The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.
- A non-commissioned officer rank in the police force, below a sergeant but above a private or patrolman.
- A worker in charge of the wagonway, reporting to the deputy.
- The white linen cloth on which the elements of the Eucharist are placed; a communion cloth.