Crossword Genius

Sailor returning home, good sailor (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rating

'sailor' is the definition.
(British term for a naval enlisted man)

'sailor returning home good' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'tar' (tar is a kind of sailor**).
'returning' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'good' becomes 'g' (abbreviation).
'tar' in reverse letter order is 'rat'.
'rat'+'in'+'g'='RATING'

(Other definitions for rating that I've seen before include "Classification - or a non-com sailor" , "Lowly naval rank" , "rebuke?" , "Grading or ranking" , "Classification; seaman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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