napoleon
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from French Napoléon (“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”).[1] In reference to guns and possibly cards, in reference to Napoleon III.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /nəˈpəʊlɪən/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /nəˈpoʊli.ən/, /nəˈpoʊljn/, /nəˈpoʊljən/
- Rhymes: -əʊliən
Noun
napoleon (plural napoleons)
- (historical numismatics, slang) The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon.
- (historical numismatics, slang) Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values.
- 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Red-Headed League (Norton 2005 p.67)
- 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 2005 p.67)
- (usually admiringly derogatory) 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.
- 1894, Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, p. 260:
- 1896, J.S. Ogilvie, The Life and Speeches of William McKinley:
- 1997, Ben Macintyre, The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief.
- (fashion, obsolete) Clipping of Napoleon boot: a form of topboot worn by officers during the Napoleonic Wars.
- 2011, Robert Morgan, Lions of the West::
- Always an eloquent speaker, Polk became known as the Napoleon of the stump.
- (historical weaponry) Clipping of Napoleon gun: a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
- (card games, uncountable) A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
- (card games, uncountable) Clipping of double napoleon: a form of patience.
- (rare UK horse racing slang, obsolete) 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.
- Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau: a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit.
- (food, originally US slang) Clipping of Napoleon cake: another name for a millefeuille pastry.
- (alcoholic beverages, rare) Clipping of Napoleon brandy: any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.
- (pastries) A multi-layered stacked pastry
Synonyms
- (gold coin): louis, louis d'or, franc germinal
- (pastry): custard slice, vanilla slice, mille-feuille, millefeuille
Hyponyms
(stacked pastry):
Derived terms
References
- ^ "Napoleon, n.¹" in the Oxford English Dictionary (2003), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from French napoléon. Named after Napoleon Bonaparte, whose image the coins originally bore.
Pronunciation
Noun
napoleon m (plural napoleons)
- (historical, numismatics) The 20-franc gold coin, the franc germinal, originally issued under Napoleon, but also used of subsequent gold coins of the same denomination.
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English 4-syllable words
- English 2-syllable words
- Rhymes:English/əʊliən
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with historical senses
- en:Currency
- English slang
- English derogatory terms
- en:Fashion
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English clippings
- English terms with quotations
- en:Weapons
- en:Card games
- English uncountable nouns
- English terms with rare senses
- British English
- en:Horse racing
- American English
- en:Alcoholic beverages
- English eponyms
- en:Cherry cultivars
- en:Coins
- Dutch terms borrowed from French
- Dutch terms derived from French
- Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation
- Dutch terms with audio pronunciation
- Dutch lemmas
- Dutch nouns
- Dutch nouns with plural in -s
- Dutch entries with language name categories using raw markup
- Dutch masculine nouns
- Dutch terms with historical senses
- nl:Currency
- Dutch eponyms