The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word USED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
U
S
E
D
More clues leading to the result USED
- Football official leaving refused to be exploited
- Put out without a note as second-hand
- Employed engineers initially in Bucks?
- Exercised house-dog, to some extent
- Not new, being exploited
- Clapped-out like a brolly
- Second-hand American edition
- Exploited? That’s not new
- Like some previous edition?
- American edition
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "second-hand" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case second-hand = used.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 USED mean?
USED verb- To utilize or employ.
- To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.)
- (except in past tense) To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)
- To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
- To behave, act, comport oneself.
- That is or has or have been used.
- That has or have previously been owned by someone else.
- Familiar through use; usual; accustomed.