The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word AIRLOCK
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
I
R
L
O
C
K
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 AIRLOCK mean?
AIRLOCK noun- A small amount of air in a pipe that stops liquid flowing through it
- A sealed, airtight chamber, such as in a manned spacecraft or submarine, used to provide access to and from the sealed area without allowing air out or water in.