Sweeping floor around back of larder having quality in stock (12)
I believe the answer is:
thoroughbred
'quality in stock' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'sweeping floor around back of larder' is the wordplay.
'sweeping' becomes 'thorough' (synonyms).
'floor' becomes 'bed' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'back of' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'larder' is 'r'.
'bed' going around 'r' is 'bred'.
'thorough'+'bred'='THOROUGHBRED'
'having' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thoroughbred that I've seen before include "A horse of pure lineage" , "No mongrel" , "of highest quality" , "Pure-blooded racehorse" , "One of pure pedigree" .)