The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word BUTCHER*
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
B
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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 BUTCHER* mean?
BUTCHER* noun- A person who prepares and sells meat (and sometimes also slaughters the animals).
- A brutal or indiscriminate killer.
- (from butcher's hook) A look.
- A person who sells candy, drinks, etc. in theatres, trains, circuses, etc.
- To slaughter (animals) and prepare (meat) for market.
- To kill brutally.
- To ruin (something), often to the point of defamation.
- (originally Polari) Very masculine, with a masculine appearance or attitude.