The Clue
Cotton on a stick (4 letter answer)
The Answer
SWAB
Tags
Notes
The answer SWAB is seen frequently, appearing about once every 170 puzzles.
Related Clues
Mop
Sailor
Tar
Clean the deck
Clean an orlop
Clean the orlop
Clear the deck?
Cotton stick
Culture transferer
Deck cleaner
Deck washer
Do the deck
Hit the deck?
Medical applicator
Mop the deck
Mop, as a deck
Mop or sponge
Nurse's item
Nurse's stick
Q-Tip
Q-Tip, for one
Sailor's mop
Seaborne lackey
Shipboard mop
Ship's mop
Tar's cleaner
Tar's mop
Use a mop
Do a sailor's job
Do a salt's job
Med lab specimen
Q-Tip, e.g.
Brush for cleaning a gun barrel
Aid for collecting some samples
What tars do to decks
Definition
SWAB as a noun:
1. implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion
2. (swab, swob, mop) = cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
SWAB as a verb:
1. (swab, swob) = wash with a swab or a mop; "swab the ship's decks"
2. (dab, swab, swob) = apply (usually a liquid) to a surface; "dab the wall with paint"