Cryptic crossword clue
Perhaps discharge firearm in front of king 4

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word GUNK

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
G
U
N
K

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Perhaps discharge" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case perhaps discharge = gunk.
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 GUNK mean?

GUNK noun
  1. Dirt or grime; any vague or unknown substance
  2. A subculture of 21st century American males, combining elements of modern gothic culture with punk rock.
  3. A member of the gunk subculture.
GUNK verb
  1. To soil or make dirty

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