Crossword Genius

Safeguard wild, ripe cotton (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

protection

'safeguard' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'wild ripe cotton' is the wordplay.
'wild' is an anagram indicator.
'ripe'+'cotton'='ripecotton'
'ripecotton' anagrammed gives 'PROTECTION'.

(Other definitions for protection that I've seen before include "Way to extort money criminally" , "Defence; patronage" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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