The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HUSBANDS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
H
U
S
B
A
N
D
S
More clues leading to the result HUSBANDS
- Hard shackles worn by American’s partners
- They’re not included among singles from hot American groups
- Workers catching bus set out to be old-style breadwinners?
- Manages hard American groups
- Partners of sailors welcome in port
- Men joined majority of immoral women outside party
- Burning bush and heart of asp
- Greg the Trade Minister accepting electronic bus is economically efficient
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "old-style breadwinners" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case old-style breadwinners = husbands.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 HUSBANDS mean?
HUSBANDS noun- The master of a house; the head of a family; a householder.
- A tiller of the ground; a husbandman.
- A prudent or frugal manager.
- A man in a marriage or marital relationship, especially in relation to his spouse.
- The male of a pair of animals.
- A manager of property; one who has the care of another's belongings, owndom, or interests; a steward; an economist.
- A large cushion with arms meant to support a person in the sitting position.
- A polled tree; a pollard.
- To manage or administer carefully and frugally; use to the best advantage; economise.
- To conserve.
- To till; cultivate; farm; nurture.
- To provide with a husband.
- To engage or act as a husband to; assume the care of or responsibility for; accept as one's own.