English

Proper noun

Napoleon

1. Napoleon Bonaparte.
2. A male given name sometimes given in honor of the French emperor.

Derived terms

• Napoleonesque
• Napoleonism
• Napoleonist

Translations

Noun

Napoleon ‎(plural Napoleons)

1. Alternative form of napoleon in its various senses
   • 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Final Problem

     He [Professor Moriarty] is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.

   • 2011, Robert Morgan, Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion

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

   • 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.

Faroese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /naˈpʰoː.lɪ.ɔn/

Etymology

From French Napoléon, from Italian Napoleone, name of an early saint, of uncertain origin.

Proper noun

Napoleon m

1. A male given name

Usage notes

Patronymics

• son of Sverri: Napoleonsson
• daughter of Sverri: Napoleonsdóttir

Declension

Derived terms

• Poli m

German

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: Na‧po‧le‧on

Proper noun

Napoleon m ‎(genitive Napoleons)

1. (historical) Napoleon Bonaparte

Derived terms

• napoleonisch
• Westentaschennapoleon (derogatory)

English

Alternative forms

• Napoleon

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) Short for 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) Short for Napoleon gun: a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.
6. (card games, uncountable) A 19th-century 5-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.
7. (card games, uncountable) Short for double napoleon: a form of patience.
8. (rare Britain 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. Short for Napoleon bigarreau: a variety of the white-fleshed bigarreau cherry; a variety of cherry tree bearing such fruit.
10. (food, originally US slang) Short for Napoleon cake: another name for a millefeuille pastry.
11. (alcohol, rare) Short for Napoleon brandy: any excellent brandy; a serving of such a brandy.

Synonyms

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

Derived terms

References

1. ↑ "Napoleon, n.¹" in the Oxford English Dictionary (2003), Oxford: Oxford University Press.