napoleon
nounUK /nəˈpəʊlɪən/ · US /nəˈpoʊli.ən/
Etymology Borrowed from French Napoléon (“a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte”). In reference to coins, via French napoléon (“(slang) a coin that originally had the appearance of Napoleon's face in the obverse”). In reference to guns and possibly cards, a reference to Napoleon III.
12 senses
- 1The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under…
- 2Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values.
- 3A person resembling Napoleon Bonaparte, (usually) in…
- 4Clipping of Napoleon boot, a form of topboot worn by…
- 5Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used…
- 6A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified…
- 7Clipping of double napoleon, a form of patience/solitaire.
- 8Alternative form of nap: a horse to go nap on, a sure…
- 9Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau, a variety of the…
- 10Clipping of Napoleon cake, another name for a…
- 11Clipping of Napoleon brandy, any excellent brandy; a…
- 12Ellipsis of Napoleon slice.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics Historical, Slang The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics Historical, Slang Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values.
- We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed, for that purpose, thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France.1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, Norton, published 2005, page 67:
A person resembling Napoleon Bonaparte, (usually) in having come to dominate an area or sphere of activity through ruthlessness or illegality as well as surpassing ability.
Usually admiringly derogatory
- He [sc. James Moriarty] is the Napoleon of crime, Watson. He is the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city [sc. London]. He is a genius, a philosopher, an abstract thinker.1894, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, page 260:
- He [sc. McKinley] has been called the Napoleon of protection, as other men have been called Napoleons of finance.1896, J.S. Ogilvie, The Life and Speeches of William McKinley:
Fashion, Lifestyle Abbreviation, Clipping, Obsolete Clipping of Napoleon boot, a form of topboot worn by officers during the Napoleonic Wars.
- Always an eloquent speaker, Polk became known as the Napoleon of the stump.2011, Robert Morgan, Lions of the West::
Engineering, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry Abbreviation, Clipping, Historical Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
Card games, Games A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
Card games, Games Abbreviation, Clipping Clipping of double napoleon, a form of patience/solitaire.
Hobbies, Horse racing, Horseracing, Horses, Lifestyle, Pets, Racing, Sports UK, Alternative, Obsolete, Rare, Slang Alternative form of nap: a horse to go nap on, a sure thing, a certain winner; a prediction of such a horse; a bet on such a horse.
Abbreviation, Clipping Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau, a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit.
Food, Lifestyle Abbreviation, Clipping Clipping of Napoleon cake, another name for a millefeuille pastry.
- Fascinated, Miss Manvers thrust aside a garnished plate, took a gulp of the decoction called coffee, and attacked her napoleon.1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 1:
Abbreviation, Ellipsis Ellipsis of Napoleon slice.
- Synonyms
- louis, louis d'or, franc germinal, custard slice, vanilla slice, mille-feuille, millefeuille
- Derived terms
- double napoleon, double Napoleon, nap, Napoleon Bigarreau, Napoleon bigarreau, napoleon bigarreau, Napoleon boot, napoleon boot, Napoleon brandy, napoleon brandy, napoleon cake, Napoleon cake, napoleon cherry, Napoleon cherry, napoleon gun, Napoleon gun, napoleon pastry, Napoleon pastry
- Related terms
- napoleonka