The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MANPOWER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
M
A
N
P
O
W
E
R
More clues leading to the result MANPOWER
- Personnel in authority on island
- Available workers brandishing weapon in masculine style
- Staff, unusual weapon clutched by maiden queen
- Mass resistance must include development of weapon to create force required
- Staff machine that cuts round article on page
- Number of staff available, holding captured enemy in half-hearted way
- Staffing that’s opposed by feminists?
- Human resources that feminists fight against?
- Workforce of isle authority
- Warm, open, flexible workforce
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Number of staff available" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case number of staff available = manpower.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 MANPOWER mean?
MANPOWER noun- The total number of all available workers; the workforce.
- The power exerted by a single person (analogous to horsepower.)