Mother embraces an old convict in Spanish port (6)
I believe the answer is:
malaga
'spanish port' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'mother embraces an old convict' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (ma can mean mother).
'embraces' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'an' becomes 'a'.
'old convict' becomes 'lag' (slang term for a prisoner. I am not sure about the 'old' bit.).
'a'+'lag'='alag'
'ma' enclosing 'alag' is 'MALAGA'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for malaga that I've seen before include "Spanish port and resort town" , "where Spanish sailor lands?" , "Sweet Spanish fortified wine; Picasso birthplace" , "Andalusian city" , "City of Andalusia" .)