Cryptic crossword clue
Outlaws regularly protected by ship’s defences 8

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

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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Buddy explains!

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

BULWARKS noun
  1. A defensive wall or rampart.
  2. A defense or safeguard.
  3. A breakwater.
  4. The planking or plating along the sides of a nautical vessel above her gunwale that reduces the likelihood of seas washing over the gunwales and people being washed overboard.
  5. Any means of defence or security.
BULWARKS verb
  1. To fortify something with a wall or rampart.
  2. To provide protection of defense for something.

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