Note 10 - Pension and Postretirement Benefits - Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 01, 2018	Dec. 02, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016
Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		$ 346,460	$ 378,099	$ 331,505
Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		169,455	187,708	163,322
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,910	79,300	66,640
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		156,200	182,541
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		74,731	82,392
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		464	406
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		189,639	194,920
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		7,467	7,803
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		266	291
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		662	660
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,446	78,894
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		346,105	377,752
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,860	90,855
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,910	79,300
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]	354	347
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]	86,595	96,853
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		121,086	144,124
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		30,123	35,118
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		85,007	95,542
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		1,073	1,185
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		206,094	239,666
Equity Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		31,196	36,303
Insurance [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Insurance [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Insurance [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,446	78,894	66,064
Insurance [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		82,446	78,894
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		33,892	42,310
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		44,158	46,725
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		104,484	99,252
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		6,394	6,618
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		266	291	$ 320
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		662	660
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		138,642	141,853
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		51,214	54,003
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		1,222	(3,893)
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		450	549
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		464	406
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		148	126
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets		1,370	(3,767)
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		450	549
Cash [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, 2 and 3 [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets		464	406
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | UNITED STATES
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]
Other Investments Measured at NAV [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Foreign Plan [Member]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	[1]

[1] In accordance with ASC Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurement, certain investments that are measured at NAV (Net Asset Value per share) (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts represented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the statement of financial position.