Closemouthed

The answer to the crossword question is “MUM.” The word “closemouthed ” is often used to describe someone who doesn’t speak much or keeps secrets. “Mum” is a word that means both “silent” or “unable to speak” and “mother.” So, the clue “closemouthed is MUM” is a clever wordplay combining these two meanings, suggesting that being “mum” or silent can be like being a mother who keeps her child’s secrets.