The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word LABOUR
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
L
A
B
O
U
R
More clues leading to the result LABOUR
- Party after which a tot might be brought out
- Herculean task reducing flab ourselves
- Men spared being in this political party
- Workers about to be cut in two different ways
- See 21dn.
- Party happening at the end of term
- Work in place for experiments by old university research leader
- Work experience in maternity ward?
- Efficient — as a political rescue package?
- Work for us, with shorter spell for Americans
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Work experience/in maternity ward" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case work experience/in maternity ward = labour.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 LABOUR mean?
LABOUR noun- Effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.
- That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort.
- Workers in general; the working class, the workforce; sometimes specifically the labour movement, organised labour.
- A political party or force aiming or claiming to represent the interests of labour.
- The act of a mother giving birth.
- The time period during which a mother gives birth.
- The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.
- An old measure of land area in Mexico and Texas, approximately 177 acres.
- To toil, to work.
- To belabour, to emphasise or expand upon (a point in a debate, etc).
- To be oppressed with difficulties or disease; to do one's work under conditions which make it especially hard or wearisome; to move slowly, as against opposition, or under a burden.
- To suffer the pangs of childbirth.
- To pitch or roll heavily, as a ship in a turbulent sea.