The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HARDHEAD
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Practical person" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case practical person = hardhead.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 HARDHEAD mean?
HARDHEAD noun- One who is practical or hardheaded.
- A brown diving duck, Aythya australis, native to Australia.
- Any of various freshwater cyprinid fishes of the genus Mylopharodon, or of saltwater sciaenid (Sciaenidae) fishes.
- Any of several weeds in or formerly classified in the genus Centaurea, particularly Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens).
- Residual ore that failed to melt during a smelting process.
- Clash or collision of heads in contest.
- A Scottish billon coin circulated in the reigns of Mary and James VI.