Note 10 - Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Changes in the Level 3 Plan Assets of Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	$ 336,461	$ 384,335
Level 3 balance at end of year	331,505	336,461
Currency change effect
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	352
Level 3 balance at end of year	320	352
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member] | Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	130,386
Level 3 balance at end of year	127,196	130,386
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member] | Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	352	407
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(32)	(55)
Level 3 balance at end of year	320	352
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	62,585	63,076
Level 3 balance at end of year	66,640	62,585
Currency change effect
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	62,299
Level 3 balance at end of year	66,064	62,299
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Insurance [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	62,299
Level 3 balance at end of year	66,064	62,299
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Insurance [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	62,299	61,980
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	(482)	(462)
Level 3 balance at end of year	66,064	62,299
Net transfers into / (out of) level 3	(435)	(701)
Net gains	4,682	1,482
Foreign Pension Plan [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	172,241	188,210
Level 3 balance at end of year	163,323	172,241
Currency change effect	14,470	17,552
Foreign Pension Plan [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	530
Level 3 balance at end of year	569	530
Foreign Pension Plan [Member] | Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	48,001
Level 3 balance at end of year	48,072	48,001
Foreign Pension Plan [Member] | Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year	530	582
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net
Level 3 balance at end of year	569	530
Net transfers into / (out of) level 3	21	28
Net gains	16	9
Currency change effect	2	(89)
Foreign Pension Plan [Member] | Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Level 3 balance at beginning of year		2,160
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net		(2,388)
Level 3 balance at end of year
Net transfers into / (out of) level 3		(12)
Net gains		282
Currency change effect		$ (42)