The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word EPIGRAMS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
P
I
G
R
A
M
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 EPIGRAMS mean?
EPIGRAMS noun- An inscription in stone.
- A brief but witty saying.
- A short, witty or pithy poem.