cotton wool

noun

1. cotton in its raw state, as on the boll or gathered but unprocessed.
2. British. absorbent cotton.

noun

1. Also called: purified cotton mainly British bleached and sterilized cotton from which the gross impurities, such as the seeds and waxy matter, have been removed: used for surgical dressings, tampons, etcUsual US term: absorbent cotton
2. cotton in the natural state
3. British informal
   1. a state of pampered comfort and protection
   2. (as modifier)a cotton-wool existence