The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word QUIDNUNC
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
Q
U
I
D
N
U
N
C
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "gossip" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case gossip = quidnunc.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 QUIDNUNC mean?
QUIDNUNC noun- A person eager to learn news and scandal.