The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word VIRAGOS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
V
I
R
A
G
O
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "dragons (bad-tempered women!)" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dragons (bad-tempered women!) = viragos.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 VIRAGOS mean?
VIRAGOS noun- A woman given to undue belligerence or ill manner at the slightest provocation.
- A woman who is scolding, domineering, or highly opinionated.
- A woman who is rough, loud, and aggressive.