The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CORNS
C
O
R
N
S
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CORNS mean?
CORNS noun- The main cereal plant grown for its grain in a given region, such as oats in parts of Scotland and Ireland, and wheat or barley in England and Wales.
- Maize, a grain crop of the species Zea mays.
- A grain or seed, especially of a cereal crop.
- A small, hard particle.
- To granulate; to form a substance into grains
- To preserve using coarse salt, e.g. corned beef
- To provide with corn (typically maize; or, in Scotland, oats) for feed
- To render intoxicated
- A type of callus, usually on the feet or hands.