The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word LEWD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
L
E
W
D
More clues leading to the result LEWD
- Dirty linen evidently washed, disgusting originally
- Obscene gents had to be heard
- Directed to consume whiskey? That’s obscene!
- Dirty spring coming up short on depth
- Have a home not left to turn dirty
- Hot? Not very, with day ending
- Wife wearing light blue
- Rude wife assumed command going about
- The backward remain endlessly ignorant, as of old
- Indecent, blue Swede is regularly exposed
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Rude" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rude = lewd.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 LEWD mean?
LEWD verb- To get high on quaalude.
- To express lust; to behave in a lewd manner.
- Lascivious, sexually promiscuous, rude.
- Lay; not clerical.
- Uneducated.
- Vulgar, common; typical of the lower orders.
- Base, vile, reprehensible.