1. a herring, especially one that has been salted and dried
Usage: archaic; chiefly British
2. a person who informs on others; an informer or tattletale
Usage: slang; informal; chiefly British

Examples

• The fishmonger sold dried alec at the market.
• In old nautical tales, sailors would preserve alec for long voyages.
• He was known as an alec for reporting his friends to the authorities.
• Don't be an alec—keep what you heard to yourself.