The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word VERONICA
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
V
E
R
O
N
I
C
A
More clues leading to the result VERONICA
- Bloomer I committed originally in city of star-crossed lovers
- Woman one confused with vicar
- Lady in charge entering northern Italian city
- Woman in charge in Italian city
- Naughty or nice? Virginia on the outside’s a different woman
- Very short and round, not entirely pleasant — a woman
- Girl I see in place of a couple of gentlemen
- Woman, one with clubs in Italian city
- Flower girl
- In Romeo’s home I start to collect speedwell
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Woman" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case woman = veronica.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 VERONICA mean?
VERONICA noun- The image of Jesus's face believed to have been made on the cloth with which St Veronica wiped his face as he went to be crucified; or the cloth used for this.
- A circular swinging movement of the cape, used to avoid the bull.
- A flower of the genus Veronica, usually having blue petals.
- To draw a muleta over and away from a bull's face in bullfighting.