The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word VEIN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
V
E
I
N
More clues leading to the result VEIN
- Nice wine encapsulates European mood
- Typically long vessel — see one in Hamburg
- Tubular vessel some have internally
- Useless-sounding vessel
- Empty-sounding vessel in body
- Dracula might attack this French wine, after swallowing tablet
- Vessel of some relative interest
- Vessel that’s empty picked up by mistake?
- Five-one to Germany — that shows style
- Vessel above internal features
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "vessel" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case vessel = vein.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 VEIN mean?
VEIN noun- A blood vessel that transports blood from the capillaries back to the heart.
- (in plural) The entrails of a shrimp.
- In leaves, a thickened portion of the leaf containing the vascular bundle.
- The nervure of an insect’s wing.
- A stripe or streak of a different colour or composition in materials such as wood, cheese, marble or other rocks.
- A topic of discussion; a train of association, thoughts, emotions, etc.
- A style, tendency, or quality.
- A fissure, cleft or cavity, as in the earth or other substance.
- To mark with veins or a vein-like pattern.