Cryptic crossword clue
US state exercise set up ancient weapons 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CALTROPS

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "ancient weapo" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ancient weapo = caltrops.
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 CALTROPS mean?

CALTROPS noun
  1. A small, metal object with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles.
  2. The same object represented as a heraldic charge.
  3. The starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, a plant with sharp thorns.
  4. Any of a number of flowering plants in the family Zygophyllaceae, including several members of the genus Kallstroemia and the species Tribulus terrestris, native to warm temperate and tropical regions.

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