The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word CHAINS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
C
H
A
I
N
S
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 CHAINS mean?
CHAINS noun- A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
- A series of interconnected things.
- A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
- A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
- A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
- A long measuring tape.
- A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.
- A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
- A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
- That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.
- (in the plural) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
- The warp threads of a web.
- To fasten something with a chain.
- To link multiple items together.
- To secure someone with fetters.
- To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
- To obligate.
- To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
- To be chained to another data item.
- To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
- (associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).