Where did the term smart aleck come from?

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Question by Lynn Shepard
Submitted on 2/29/2004
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Where did the term smart aleck come from?

Answer by Jim Ferguson
Submitted on 8/9/2005
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Probably from Alexander H Stephens ( Little Aleck)distinguished Senator from Ga in the late 1850's. He was an extremely good debater and speaker of his day. People would come from miles around to hear him speak. He was very small and frail and a senator from NJ told him one day during a debate he could cut off his ears and swallow him in one swallow and Aleck's retort was that his stomach would have a lot more brains that his head. He was later the Vice President of the Confederacy, and Governor of Georgia.

Answer by ko
Submitted on 1/6/2007
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i think it most likely came from '(smart) little Alek' which was the nickname given a very popular governor of Georgia, as well as Vice President of the Confederacy (Alex. Hamilton Stephens). Lincoln once said of him, "I have just listened to someone who, though small and frail, delivered the smartest speech I have ever heard in my life."

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