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”).
- Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), a French military commander and political leader.
- A male given name from Italian sometimes given in honor of the French emperor.
- A village in Silesia, Poland.
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- A number of places in the United States:
- 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.
- The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
- A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
- Clipping of double napoleon, a form of patience/solitaire.
- 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.
- 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.”
- Clipping of Napoleon brandy, any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.
- Ellipsis of Napoleon slice.