alec

1
[ al-ik ]

nounObsolete.
  1. a herring.

  2. a sauce or relish made from small herring or anchovies.

Origin of alec

1
1510–20; <Latin (h)al(l)ec fish sauce

Other definitions for alec (2 of 3)

alec2
[ al-ik ]

nounAustralian.
  1. a simpleton or fool.

Origin of alec

2
1920–25; cf. smart aleck; sense shift perhaps originally from ironic usage

Other definitions for Alec (3 of 3)

Alec

or Al·eck

[ al-ik ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Alexander.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use alec in a sentence

  • I tell you, open up one of those joints and let these smart Alecs who want to get rich quick come in and lose their money.

    Rockhaven | Charles Munn