alec
1 Americannoun
-
a herring.
-
a sauce or relish made from small herring or anchovies.
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of alec1
1510–20; < Latin ( h ) al ( l ) ec fish sauce
Origin of alec2
1920–25; smart aleck ( def. ); sense shift perhaps originally from ironic usage
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although she is particularly excited to display paintings by Alec Egan, depicting the trauma of the Palisades fire, she is glad that the fair is bustling and joyous.
From Los Angeles Times
I was 34 when I got the Bournemouth job, which is very young for a manager but I learned the defining reason behind a long life in this new role - as Alec said, management is all about winning.
From BBC
I always remember the late Alec Stock - another member of the 1,000 club, who had long spells in charge of Leyton Orient, QPR and Fulham as well as with Yeovil, Roma, Luton and Bournemouth - ringing me up one night and explaining why I should work on a three-year plan.
From BBC
The second season was to reset it, to get it working on and off the pitch and win all the battles to get things my own way for the third season which, according to Alec, was the season that everyone - supporters, directors and yourself - should see progress.
From BBC
Retired businessman Alec Orr said the entire Derry community was in shock.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
