Word with candy or ball

I believe the answer is:

cotton

(Other definitions for cotton that I've seen before include "Soft fabric and fluffy wool (6" , "Cloth woven from a plant" , "Soft white substance used to make fabric - in song, Old Man River don't plant it" , "Fabric made from tropical plant - old man river don't plant it" , "Creamy-white natural fibre" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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