Cryptic crossword clue
  Tear bottle from legless actor’s clammy hand, initially – rye and malt, both unfinished 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LACHRYMAL

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Tear bottle" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tear bottle = lachrymal.
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 LACHRYMAL mean?

LACHRYMAL noun
  1. A lachrymatory (vase intended for collecting tears)
  2. (in the plural) Lachrymal feelings or organs
  3. One of the bones of the face, the os unguis, or nail-bone, in humans.
LACHRYMAL adjective
  1. Of or relating to tears, or the tear glands.

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