English
napoleon
see also: Napoleon
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /nəˈpəʊlɪən/
  • (America) IPA: /nəˈpoʊli.ən/, /nəˈpoʊljn/, /nəˈpoʊljən/
Noun

napoleon (plural napoleons)

  1. (historical numismatics, slang) The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon.
  2. (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.
  3. (usually admiringly pejorative) 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:
      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.
    • 1896, J.S. Ogilvie, The Life and Speeches of William McKinley:
      He [sc. McKinley] has been called the Napoleon of protection, as other men have been called Napoleons of finance.
    • 1997, Ben Macintyre, The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief.
  4. (fashion, obsolete) Clipping of Napoleon boot: a form of topboot worn by officers during the Napoleonic Wars.
  5. (historical weaponry) Clipping of Napoleon gun: a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
  6. (card games, uncountable) A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
  7. (card games, uncountable) Clipping of double napoleon#English|double napoleon: a form of patience.
  8. (rare UK horse racing slang, obsolete) Alternative form of nap#English|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.
  9. Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau: a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit.
  10. (food, originally US slang) Clipping of Napoleon cake: another name for a millefeuille pastry.
  11. (alcohol, rare) Clipping of Napoleon brandy: any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.
  12. (pastries) A multi-layered stacked pastry
Synonyms
Napoleon
Proper noun
  1. Napoleon Bonaparte.c en
  2. A male given name sometimes given in honor of the French emperor.
  3. A city/county seat in Henry County, Ohio.cln en
  4. CDP in Michigan.
  5. A city/county seat in Logan County, North Dakota.
  6. A town in Indiana.
  7. A city in Missouri.
  8. A village in Silesia, Poland.
  9. An unincorporated community in Kentucky.
  10. An unincorporated community in Mississippi.
  11. A ghost town in Arkansas.
Translations Translations Noun

napoleon (plural napoleons)

  1. Alternative form of napoleon
    • 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Final Problem
      He [Professor Moriarty] is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.
    • 1896, J.S. Ogilvie, "A Biographical Sketch of William McKinley." The Life and Speeches of William McKinley.
      He [William McKinley] has been called the Napoleon of protection, as other men have been called Napoleons of finance.


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