The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word PEAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
P
E
A
L
More clues leading to the result PEAL
- Friend hiding European ring
- Ring friend about Emilia’s debut
- Countryman’s jumped up having caught a young trout
- Friend entertaining drug ring
- Request to drop large 29
- A series of loud sounds from European breaking china
- Ring cycle has no heart
- Friend embracing sweetheart, sound as a bell
- Pronounced former PM sound as a bell
- Ringing European in China
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "sound as a bell" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case sound as a bell = peal.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 PEAL mean?
PEAL noun- A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, laughter, of a multitude, etc.
- A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale.
- The changes rung on a set of bells.
- To sound with a peal or peals.
- To utter or sound loudly.
- To assail with noise.
- To resound; to echo.
- To pour out.
- To appeal.
- A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin.