English
napoleon
Napoleon comes from French Napoléon ‘a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon…’, and goes back to Italian Napoleone.
- Italianc. 1300–presentNapoleone
- Frenchc. 1600–presentNapoléon‘a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte’
- Englishearliest quotation 1891napoleon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Italianc. 1300–presentNapoleone
- Frenchc. 1600–presentNapoléon‘a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte’
- Englishearliest quotation 1891napoleon
Earliest quotation: 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Red-Headed League: “We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our…”
The story
Borrowed from French Napoléon (‘a given name, usually in reference to Napoleon Bonaparte’).
Every English word from Italian Napoleone
Today it means
noun The franc germinal: a 20-franc gold coin issued under Napoleon I of France.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Italian Napoleone / napoleon