The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SHEEPISH
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
H
E
E
P
I
S
H
More clues leading to the result SHEEPISH
- Quiet husband holding European record is shamefaced
- Embarrassed, being compared to one easily led?
- Don't talk nonsense about case of employee being slightly embarrassed
- Rather abashed, a bit like Dolly
- Dickens’ Heep is humble; somewhat timid . . . .
- Uncomfortable, like a woolly jumper?
- Shamefaced husband admitted to date with Penny, a single mum
- Embarrassed humble character is protected by mum
- Embarrassed Dickensian character is keeping quiet? The opposite
- Ashamed, and second, rather humble?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Rather abashed/a bit like Dolly" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rather abashed/a bit like dolly = sheepish.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 SHEEPISH mean?
SHEEPISH adjective- Having the characteristics of a sheep.
- Shy, meek, shameful or embarrassed.