King in female clothing, which may be short? (6)
I believe the answer is:
shrift
'which may be short?' is the definition.
(as in the phrase 'short shrift')
'king in female clothing' is the wordplay.
'king' becomes 'r' (r is abbreviation for rex).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'female clothing' becomes 'shift' (type of dress).
'r' inserted inside 'shift' is 'SHRIFT'.
(Other definitions for shrift that I've seen before include "Absolution and penance (now usually short!)" , "Pardon?" , "'Short ------', given scant attention" , "confession, this might be short" , "Short . . . . . . is curt treatment" .)