The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word WHELP
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
W
H
E
L
P
More clues leading to the result WHELP
- Welsh nurse finds bear
- Drop litter with domestic servant
- Youngster needs encouragement after sorrow, ultimately
- Give birth with assistance
- Puppy needs assistance after start of winter
- Puppy at first washed daily
- Young Women’s charity
- Puppy beginning to walk further
- Western Aid for 27
- Pup needing assistance to support weight
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "27" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case 27 = whelp.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 WHELP mean?
WHELP noun- A young offspring of a canid (ursid, felid, pinniped), especially of a dog or a wolf, the young of a bear or similar mammal (lion, tiger, seal); a pup, wolf cub.
- An insolent youth; a mere child.
- A kind of ship.
- One of several wooden strips to prevent wear on a windlass on a clipper-era ship.
- A tooth on a sprocket wheel (compare sprocket and cog).
- (of she-dog, she-wolf, vixen, etc.) To give birth.
- Well, typically used in exasperation.