The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word LAVER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
L
A
V
E
R
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 LAVER mean?
LAVER noun- A red alga/seaweed, Porphyra umbilicalis (syn. Porphyra laciniata), eaten as a vegetable.
- Other seaweeds similar in appearance or use, especially:
- One who laves: a washer.
- Where one laves, a washroom, particularly a lavatorium, the washing area in a monastery.
- That which laves, particularly a washbasin.