Crossword Genius

Drug dealer keeps one pound back, for bookmaker? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

publisher

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

'drug dealer keeps one pound back' is the wordplay.
'drug dealer' becomes 'pusher' (someone who sells or pushes drugs).
'keeps' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are kept inside).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'pound' becomes 'lb' (abbreviation for the unit of weight).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'i'+'lb'='ilb'
'ilb' backwards is 'bli'.
'pusher' placed around 'bli' is 'PUBLISHER'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for publisher that I've seen before include "damned by a duke" , "Issuer of books, music, etc" , "Man with many titles" , "Eg Jonathan Cape or Hamish Hamilton" , "One utters volumes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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