The first to embrace lout (4)
I believe the answer is:
thug
'lout' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Violent lout ' mean 'thug' so perhaps 'lout' could also mean 'thug')
'the first to embrace' is the wordplay.
'the first to' becomes 't' (1st letter of 'to').
'embrace' becomes 'hug' (synonyms).
't'+'hug'='THUG'
(Other definitions for thug that I've seen before include "Hooligan" , "Indian strangler - criminal" , "Violent ruffian" , "Heavy" , "violent man" .)