The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word TROWEL
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
R
O
W
E
L
More clues leading to the result TROWEL
- One hand drier contains small tool
- Digger may have one phone, ringing bank
- Absorbent cloth wrapping builder's last tool
- Digger reversing into Isleworth
- Wrote about large garden tool
- Tool gets right inside cloth
- Telephone to secure file, hand-held tool
- Tool runs into dryer
- Cloth to wrap around end of gardener’s tool
- Small digger’s drier keeping right
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "hand-held tool" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hand-held tool = trowel.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 TROWEL mean?
TROWEL noun- A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
- A gardener’s tool, shaped like a scoop, used in taking up plants, stirring soil etc.
- A tool used for smoothing a mold.
- To apply (a substance) with a trowel.
- To pass over with a trowel.
- To apply something heavily or unsubtly.