The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HOOLIGAN
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
H
O
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L
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G
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N
More clues leading to the result HOOLIGAN
- Thug, Chinese, going around loves free party
- Trouble-making horse, one ladies at hotel backed
- . Tough Dundee player downs cooking oil
- Tough rotting in gaol under house
- Troublemaker in gaol sadly supporting house
- Ruffian who loses head playing in goal
- Troublemaker, youth who ultimately reformed in gaol
- Rough house in gaol, out of control
- Wild character who loses head in goal, sadly
- Lout gives call to excite attention in gaol, rioting
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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 HOOLIGAN mean?
HOOLIGAN noun- A violent and noisy football (soccer) fan who routinely fights with supporters of opposing teams, often the member of a firm.
- A person that causes trouble or violence.
- (Navy slang) A member of the coast guard.
- A type of fish, an anadromous smelt, Thaleichthys pacificus, found in the North Pacific.