nəˈpōlyən, -lēən noun
( -s )
Etymology: after Napoleon I (Napoléon Bonaparte or Napoleone Buonaparte) died 1821 French emperor
1.
[French napoléon ( d'or ), literally, Napoleon of gold, after Napoléon I]
: a French 20-franc gold coin first issued in 1805 by Napoleon I but not in general circulation since World War I
2. or napoleon boot : a man's high boot worn especially in the 19th century
3.
a. : a card game played with hands of five cards in which the highest bidder having named the number of tricks he will try to take collects from each player the number of chips of the bid if he makes it or pays out that number if he fails ; also : a bid to win all five tricks for a double premium
b. : any of various forms of solitaire
4. : a rich pastry consisting of several oblong layers of puff paste with a filling of cream, custard, or jelly
5.
a. : crimson clover
b. : cypress spurge
6. usually capitalized : one like Napoleon I (as in ambition, discipline, strategy, or power)
a Napoleon in the management of men — Cy Warman
the little Napoleon of an automaking empire — Time
a Napoleon of finance