Crossword Genius

House villain without starting off gin (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

villa

'house' is the definition.
(villa is a kind of house)

'villain without starting off gin' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'off' could be 'ill' and 'ill' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

(Other definitions for villa that I've seen before include "Ancient Roman country house" , "Roman domicile" , "Rented holiday home" , "where 6 [VERDI] lived?" , "SECOND PART OF 8" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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