The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SERPENT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
E
R
P
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result SERPENT
- Treacherous type, very French, about to ensnare writer
- Splashed out without hesitation, securing old wind instrument
- Unexpected present, old instrument
- Creeper it was tempting to have in the garden
- Slyboots told to go, before sneaking back inside
- Slippery character handed over cash without hesitation
- Satanic sort, very French, about to ensnare writer
- Creeper makes weird present
- One tempted mother of ten and paid out without hesitation
- Legs gone on this obsolete instrument
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Satanic sort" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case satanic sort = serpent.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 SERPENT mean?
SERPENT noun- A snake.
- An obsolete wind instrument in the brass family, whose shape is suggestive of a snake (Wikipedia article).
- A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
- A kind of firework with a serpentine motion.
- To wind or meander
- To encircle.