Crossword Genius

Scattered boxes close to home (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sparse

'scattered' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'boxes close to home' is the wordplay.
'boxes' becomes 'spars' (sparring is a kind of boxing).
'close to' suggests the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
The last letter of 'home' is 'e'.
'spars'+'e'='SPARSE'

(Other definitions for sparse that I've seen before include "Meagre, thin on the ground" , "Infrequent" , "One's not at all thick" , "Thinly dispersed" , "In short supply" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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