The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word GUARDIAN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
G
U
A
R
D
I
A
N
More clues leading to the result GUARDIAN
- Protective paper
- Spanish football manager abandons old league — the end of Bayern’s keeper?
- Venetian who painted over an angel?
- 1 Aug and solver finally cracking this puzzle here
- We must employ rail worker, possibly a Scot
- … but we fitted much of 10 in, Dei gratia
- One with minor responsibilities in a newspaper
- Title in loco parentis?
- Protector of child in a gun raid shot 🙂
- Newspaper piece about support artist raised
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Protective/paper" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case protective/paper = guardian.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 GUARDIAN mean?
GUARDIAN noun- Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
- A person legally responsible for a minor (in loco parentis).
- A person legally responsible for an incompetent person.
- A superior in a Franciscan monastery.
- A major or final enemy; boss.