Crossword Genius

Hundreds initially fleeing icy enclosure in autumn, so to speak (3,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

old age

'autumn so to speak' is the definition.
(old age is the 'autumn' of someone's life)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for old age that I've seen before include "State of very senior citizens" , "Pensionable condition" , "time of one's life!" , "Lego ad (anag)" , "Advanced years" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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