Note 8 - Revenue - Disaggregated Revenue Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Sep. 01, 2018	Aug. 31, 2019	Sep. 01, 2018
Revenue	$ 725,376	$ 770,107	$ 2,157,894	$ 2,272,573
Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	149,204	157,907	438,729	471,473
Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	103,473	106,812	308,477	323,237
Packaging [Member]
Revenue	114,740	121,140	347,692	355,978
Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	112,014	120,342	342,818	364,891
Construction [Member]
Revenue	107,918	123,977	301,618	345,125
Engineering [Member]
Revenue	138,027	139,929	418,560	411,869
Americas Adhesives [Member]
Revenue	259,631	268,736	761,363	785,931
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	73,501	73,237	203,345	215,954
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	33,991	34,781	95,215	95,975
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Revenue	70,480	73,636	212,785	213,177
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	81,659	87,082	250,018	260,825
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Construction [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
EIMEA [Member]
Revenue	154,278	171,505	476,244	522,658
EIMEA [Member] | Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	58,761	67,354	185,550	204,641
EIMEA [Member] | Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	43,161	46,677	131,155	143,495
EIMEA [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Revenue	30,255	33,217	93,764	101,188
EIMEA [Member] | Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	22,101	24,257	65,775	73,334
EIMEA [Member] | Construction [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
EIMEA [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenue	65,522	65,960	200,109	206,990
Asia Pacific [Member] | Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	16,942	17,316	49,834	50,878
Asia Pacific [Member] | Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	26,321	25,354	82,107	83,767
Asia Pacific [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Revenue	14,005	14,287	41,143	41,613
Asia Pacific [Member] | Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	8,254	9,003	27,025	30,732
Asia Pacific [Member] | Construction [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Asia Pacific [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Construction Adhesives [Member]
Revenue	107,918	123,977	301,618	345,125
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Construction [Member]
Revenue	107,918	123,977	301,618	345,125
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member]
Revenue	138,027	139,929	418,560	411,869
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Durable Assembly [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Hygiene [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Packaging [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Paper and Other [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Construction [Member]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Engineering [Member]
Revenue	$ 138,027	$ 139,929	$ 418,560	$ 411,869