The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word QUARTERSTAFF
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
Q
U
A
R
T
E
R
S
T
A
F
F
More clues leading to the result QUARTERSTAFF
- Old stout pole 25% of workforce used?
- Pole who has only three fellow employees?
- Accommodate man in bar for a fight
- Formerly arm 25% of workforce?
- Pole once finding accommodation on river
- Arm bits in Mississippi river
- Old English weapon found in barracks by Welsh river
- Weapon of old station workers
- Pole has lodgings by Welsh river
- Means of defence of old sweats put up here on river
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Pole" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pole = quarterstaff.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 QUARTERSTAFF mean?
QUARTERSTAFF noun- A wooden staff of an approximate length between 2 and 2.5 meters, sometimes tipped with iron, used as a weapon in rural England during the Early Modern period.
- Fighting or exercise with the quarterstaff.