Crossword Genius

Warm and comfortable homes: scores around south (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nests

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'warm and comfortable homes scores around south' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'and comfortable homes scores around south' is the wordplay.
'and' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and').
'comfortable homes scores' becomes 'tse' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'around' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'south' becomes 'S' (abbreviation).
'tse' backwards is 'est'.
'n'+'est'+'s'='NESTS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nests that I've seen before include "Eyries" , "Places to rear the young?" , "Structures for egg-laying" , "Bird structures" , "Tables made to fit closely together" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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