"The Big Sleep" author
I believe the answer is:
chandler
'the big sleep author' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for chandler that I've seen before include "Dealer in marine goods" , "American detective thriller writer, d. 1959" , "Raymond ......, creator of private eye Philip Marlowe" , "Dealer in ship's equipment" , "Dealer in soap" .)