Boss initially takes in south of France (4)
I believe the answer is:
stud
'boss' is the definition.
('stud' can be a synonym of 'boss')
'initially takes in south of france' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'south of france' becomes 'sud' (French for south).
The initial letter of 'takes' is 't'.
't' put within 'sud' is 'STUD'.
(Other definitions for stud that I've seen before include "Macho - stables - boss" , "Football boot peg" , "A horse breeding farm" , "Animal breeding farm" , "Dot" .)