What is "noyau"

Noyau \Noy`au"\, n. [F., prop., the stone or nut of a fruit, fr. L. nucalis like a nut. See Newel a post.] A cordial of brandy, etc., flavored with the kernel of the bitter almond, or of the peach stone, etc.

n. 1 A French liqueur made at Poissy in north central France from brandy and flavoured with almonds and the pits of apricots since the early nineteenth century. 2 (label en ethology) A social structure where individual animals live alone, but each male's territory overlaps with those of several females.