The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word LUGGED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
L
U
G
G
E
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "With difficulty drew" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case with difficulty drew = lugged.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 LUGGED mean?
LUGGED verb- (sometimes figurative) To haul or drag along (especially something heavy); to carry; to pull.
- To run at too slow a speed.
- To carry an excessive amount of sail for the conditions prevailing.
- To pull toward the inside rail ("lugging in") or the outside rail ("lugging out") during a race.
- Having ears.