A soldier might eat it (as Burns would?) (3)
I believe the answer is:
wad
But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?
(Other definitions for wad that I've seen before include "A thick bundle, maybe of money" , "Lump or bundle of soft material" , "Compact mass" , "Bankroll; sandwich (slang)" , "Small mass of soft material" .)