The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SOLDIER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
O
L
D
I
E
R
More clues leading to the result SOLDIER
- Officer perhaps flogged strapping individual losing head
- Service person putting iodine in join
- I put in fuse for trooper, say?
- Regular join should include one?
- ‘Singular veteran’ increasingly encompasses one?
- Serviceman finds one in metal alloy
- Flogged one Queen’s Guardsman?
- Squaddie starts to sing raucously, covering 60s hit?
- 17 double-crossed one about to return
- Perhaps private detective takes on something fishy? Right
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Serviceman" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case serviceman = soldier.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 SOLDIER mean?
SOLDIER noun- A member of an army, of any rank.
- A private in military service, as distinguished from an officer.
- A guardsman.
- A member of the Salvation Army.
- A piece of buttered bread (or toast), cut into a long thin strip for dipping into a soft-boiled egg.
- A term of affection for a young boy.
- Someone who fights or toils well.
- The red or cuckoo gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus).
- One of the asexual polymorphic forms of termites, in which the head and jaws are very large and strong. The soldiers serve to defend the nest.
- A red herring (cured kipper with flesh turned red).
- To continue steadfast; to keep striving.
- To serve as a soldier.
- To intentionally restrict labor productivity; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
- To take a ride on (another person's horse) without permission.