OriginBorrowed from French noyau, from Middle French noyau, from Old French noel, from either Early Medieval Latin nōdellus (“buckle”) or Late Latin nucālis (“nut-like”). Doublet of newel and noil.
- countable, uncountableA French liqueur made at Poissy in north central France from brandy and flavoured with almonds and the pits of apricots.
“His coffee was excellent, and then came a case of liqueurs, noyau both white and red, etc.”
- countableA small nucleus or core group of people or animals.
“Borders are violated by hungering males and famished females, and the ordered animosities of the noyau give way to a saturnalia of sexual adventure.”
“The orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) also exhibits the noyau system and appears to be the only diurnal primate with a largely solitary lifestyle.”
“This "noyau" pattern is found among various nocturnal strepsirrhines.”
Formsnoyaus(plural) · noyaux(plural)