Sailor's mop (4)

I think it could be either:

swab

swob

'sailor's mop' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for swab that I've seen before include "Cotton wool mop" , "Hospital cleaner" , "Small piece of cotton used to cleanse a wound" , "Cloth for cleaning wounds" , "Cleaning implement" .)

I've seen this clue in the King Feature Syndicate, the Penny Press and The Daily Mail.

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