The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word LACED
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
L
A
C
E
D
More clues leading to the result LACED
- Doctor and duke tied up
- Oxford will always be beaten
- . Put Penny off getting drugged
- Transfer given upward move made stronger?
- Spiked, like some shoes
- Tied up leaders in long and complicated European debates
- Note odd parts of creeds intertwined
- Article in lower case editor spiked
- Fastened shoes with raised design
- Like an Oxford boy seen outside church
Buddy explains!

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 LACED mean?
LACED verb- To fasten (something) with laces.
- To add alcohol, poison, a drug or anything else potentially harmful to (food or drink).
- To interweave items.
- To interweave the spokes of a bicycle wheel.
- To beat; to lash; to make stripes on.
- To adorn with narrow strips or braids of some decorative material.
- Fastened or adorned with lace.
- Tainted with something, especially a drug.