The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CROSSHEAD
C
R
O
S
S
H
E
A
D
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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 CROSSHEAD mean?
CROSSHEAD noun- A metal beam that connects a piston to a connecting rod in an engine.
- Large text, like a headline but typically drawn from the article, placed partway through the article to break it up visually.