At first, articles will nestle in beard (3)
I believe the answer is:
awn
'beard' is the definition.
(awn is a kind of beard)
'at first articles will nestle' is the wordplay.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'articles will nestle' is 'AWN'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for awn that I've seen before include "Bristly head of barley sheath, quite wan" , "Grass "beard"" , "Bristle on, eg, barley" , "Bristly growth" , "Bristles" .)