The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word CANE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
A
N
E
More clues leading to the result CANE
- Stick may break in the middle
- Run from long-legged bird, finding bamboo
- Walking stick, article found in church
- Staff of American Express
- The stick American English gets
- Stick tin next to middle of shelf
- Type of sugar not popular for tooth
- Prison in Texas first to execute crook?
- 3 from boat, short of nothing
- Punishment for a murderer, say
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "stick" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case stick = cane.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 CANE mean?
CANE noun- A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof
- The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool
- A rod-shaped tool or device, somewhat like a cane
- Split rattan, as used in wickerwork, basketry and the like
- A local European measure of length; the canna.
- To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement
- To destroy; to comprehensively defeat
- To do something well, in a competent fashion
- To produce extreme pain
- To make or furnish with cane or rattan.