napoleon

See also: Napoleon, Napóleon, napoléon, Napoléon, and Napoleón

English

Alternative forms

• Napoleon

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”). In reference to guns and possibly cards, in reference to Napoleon III.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /nəˈpəʊlɪən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /nəˈpoʊli.ən/, /nəˈpoʊljn/, /nəˈpoʊljən/

  Rhymes: -əʊliən

Noun

napoleon (plural napoleons)

1. (historical numismatics, slang) The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
2. (historical numismatics, slang) Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values.
   • 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, Norton, published 2005, page 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 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 Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, page 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.
   • 2011, Robert Morgan, Lions of the West::

     Always an eloquent speaker, Polk became known as the Napoleon of the stump.

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: a form of patience.
8. (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.
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.
    • 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, “Anarchy”, in Nobody, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 1915, →OCLC, page 17:

      Fascinated, Miss Manvers thrust aside a garnished plate, took a gulp of the decoction called coffee, and attacked her napoleon.

11. (rare) Clipping of Napoleon brandy: any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.
12. Short for Napoleon slice.

Synonyms

• (gold coin): louis, louis d'or, franc germinal
• (pastry): custard slice, vanilla slice, mille-feuille, millefeuille

Hyponyms

(stacked pastry):

• strawberry napoleon
• raspberry napoleon
• berry napoleon

Derived terms

• double napoleon, double Napoleon
• nap (as a card game)
• 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

 

Translations

20-franc gold goin

• Albanian: napolon (sq) m
• Polish: napoleon (pl) m, napoleondor (pl) m
• Russian: наполеондо́р (ru) m (napoleondór), наполео́н (ru) m (napoleón) (colloquial)

a person resembling Napoleon Bonaparte

• Russian: Наполео́н (ru) m (Napoleón)

12-pounder cannon of the Second French Empire

• Russian: наполео́н (ru) m (napoleón)

millefeuille pastry

• Russian: наполео́н (ru) m (napoleón)

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French napoléon. Named after Napoleon Bonaparte, whose image the coins originally bore.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naːˈpoː.leː.ɔn/, /naːˈpoː.li.ɔn/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: na‧po‧le‧on

Noun

napoleon m (plural napoleons)

1. (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.

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from French napoléon, named after French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /na.pɔˈlɛ.ɔn/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛɔn
• Syllabification: na‧po‧le‧on
• Homophone: Napoleon

Noun

napoleon m animal

1. (historical) napoleon (colloquial term for a former French gold coin, the 20-franc gold coin)

   Synonym: napoleondor

Declension

Declension of napoleon

	singular	plural
nominative	napoleon	napoleony
genitive	napoleona	napoleonów
dative	napoleonowi	napoleonom
accusative	napoleona	napoleony
instrumental	napoleonem	napoleonami
locative	napoleonie	napoleonach
vocative	napoleonie	napoleony

Related terms

adjective

• napoleoński

 

nouns

• Napoleon
• napoleondor
• napoleoniana
• napoleonika
• napoleonista
• napoleonizm
• napoleonka

 

Further reading

• napoleon in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French napoléon.

Noun

napoleon m (plural napoleoni)

1. napoleon (coin)

Declension

Declension of napoleon

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) napoleon	napoleonul	(niște) napoleoni	napoleonii
genitive/dative	(unui) napoleon	napoleonului	(unor) napoleoni	napoleonilor
vocative	napoleonule		napoleonilor