The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ABAYA
A
B
A
Y
A
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The straight part
We know that "Outer garment, often black" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case outer garment, often black = abaya.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 ABAYA mean?
ABAYA noun- A coarse, often striped, felted fabric from the Middle East, woven from goat or camel hair.
- A loose-fitting sleeveless garment, made from aba or silk, worn by Arabs.
- An outer garment made of the above, very simple in form, worn by the Arabs of the desert. The illustration shows such an aba, made of two breadths of stuff sewed together to make an oblong about four by nine feet.
- An altazimuth used for astronomy on either land or water.
- The electric fish Gymnarchus niloticus (frankfish, freshwater rat-tail, African knifefish), found in swamps, lakes and rivers in Africa.