The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word GALLEYS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
G
A
L
L
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S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ships" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ships = galleys.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 GALLEYS mean?
GALLEYS noun- A long, slender ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not; usually referring to rowed warships used in the Mediterranean from the 16th century until the modern era.
- A light, open boat used on the Thames by customhouse officers, press gangs, and also for pleasure.
- One of the small boats carried by a man-of-war.
- The cookroom or kitchen and cooking apparatus of a vessel or aircraft; sometimes on merchant vessels called the caboose.
- An oblong oven or muffle with a battery of retorts; a gallery furnace.
- An oblong tray of wood or brass, with upright sides, for holding type which has been set, or is to be made up, etc.
- A proof sheet taken from type while on a galley; a galley proof.
- A representation of a single masted ship propelled by oars, with three flags and a basket.