Cryptic crossword clue
River having dried up on the banks, used a digger 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word TROWELLED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "used a digger" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case used a digger = trowelled.
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 TROWELLED mean?

TROWELLED verb
  1. To apply (a substance) with a trowel.
  2. To pass over with a trowel.
  3. To apply something heavily or unsubtly.

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