napoleon

1. (historical numismatics, slang) The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.Synonyms: louis, louis d'or, franc germinalcountablehistoricalslanguncountable

2. (historical numismatics, slang) Other subsequent 20-franc coins, notes, or values.Examples: "We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and borrowed, for that purpose, thirty thousand napoleons from the Bank of France."countablehistoricalslanguncountable

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.Examples: "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."countableuncountable

4. (fashion, obsolete) Clipping of Napoleon boot, a form of topboot worn by officers during the Napoleonic Wars.Examples: "Always an eloquent speaker, Polk became known as the Napoleon of the stump."abbreviationalt-ofclippingcountableobsoleteuncountable

5. (historical weaponry) Clipping of Napoleon gun, a 12-pounder cannon first used by the Second French Empire.abbreviationalt-ofclippingcountablehistoricaluncountable

6. (card games, uncountable) A 19th-century five-card trick-taking game simplified from euchre.uncountable