The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word STERN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
T
E
R
N
More clues leading to the result STERN
- Letters from schoolmaster never enforcing discipline
- Hard back
- Serious Irish novelist hasn't finished
- Small aquatic bird in rear of vessel
- Second regular migrant back on board
- . Pasternak exposing his rear end?
- Rear small bird
- Back in register nowadays
- Firm rear
- Grim prospect for yachtsman trying to catch rival
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Rear" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rear = stern.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 STERN mean?
STERN adjective- Having a hardness and severity of nature or manner.
- Grim and forbidding in appearance.
- The rear part or after end of a ship or vessel.
- The post of management or direction.
- The hinder part of anything.
- The tail of an animal; now used only of the tail of a dog.
- A bird, the black tern.