The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word YOKE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
Y
O
K
E
More clues leading to the result YOKE
- Slavery of bumpkin having no end
- Heavy burden very well carried by you once
- ln the end, ask wife to try kinky bondage
- Agreement accepted by the old couple
- What’s acceptable in the old-fashioned form of slavery?
- Theatrical laugh over ultimate in farce – an Irish thing
- Couple authorise interrupting you once
- Couple in generally OK environment
- Right in the old harness
- Reduced rustic wooden frame
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "form of slavery?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case form of slavery? = yoke.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 YOKE mean?
YOKE noun- Frame around the neck, and related senses.
- Pair of harnessed draught animals, and related senses.
- Extended uses and quantities.
- To link or to join.
- To unite, to connect.
- To enslave; to bring into bondage; to restrain; to confine.