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napoleon

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L324333 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /nəˈpəʊ.li.ən/ / /nəˈpəʊlɪən/ / /nəˈpoʊli.ən/ / /nəˈpoʊljn/

name

Etymology: From French Napoléon, from Italian Napoleone, name of an early saint, of uncertain origin; possibly from the Germanic clan name Nibelung. By folk etymology explained as Napoli (“Naples”) + leone (“lion”).

  1. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), a French military commander and political leader.
  2. A male given name from Italian sometimes given in honor of the French emperor.
  3. A village in Silesia, Poland.
  4. A number of places in the United States:
  5. A number of places in the United States:
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  7. A number of places in the United States:
  8. A number of places in the United States:
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  13. A surname.

noun

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.

  1. The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
  2. 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.

  3. 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.

    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.

    He [sc. McKinley] has been called the Napoleon of protection, as other men have been called Napoleons of finance.

  4. 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.

  5. Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
  6. A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
  7. Clipping of double napoleon, a form of patience/solitaire.
  8. 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.
  9. Clipping of Napoleon bigarreau, a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit.
  10. 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.

  11. Clipping of Napoleon brandy, any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.
  12. Ellipsis of Napoleon slice.