A patronymic, which cannot be here explained.
(E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898)
The name Verhuel referred to a rumour that circulated attributing the paternity of Napoleon III to a Dutch admiral named Verhuel, thus implying that he was illegitimate.
Napoleon III was the subject of a number of nicknames, including, “Badinguet”, “Boustrapa”, “Man of December, “Man of Sedan”, “Man of Silence”, “Rantipole”, and “Verhuel”.