Note 15 - Operating Segments - Reportable Operating Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 02, 2017	Sep. 02, 2017	Jun. 03, 2017	Mar. 04, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016	Aug. 27, 2016	May 29, 2016	Feb. 27, 2016	Dec. 02, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015
Sales revenue		$ 678,200	$ 562,869	$ 561,651	$ 503,323	$ 574,907	$ 512,858	$ 532,514	$ 474,326	$ 2,306,043	$ 2,094,605	$ 2,083,660
Segment operating income										126,140	202,165	170,485
Depreciation and amortization										87,315	77,685	74,890
Assets	[1]	4,360,646				2,055,868				4,360,646	2,055,868
Capital expenditures										54,934	63,310	58,624
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Assets	[1]	310,828				273,100				310,828	273,100
Capital expenditures										8,206	7,563
Americas Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income										98,978	125,979	127,780
Depreciation and amortization										21,171	18,979	19,892
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										888,552	806,062	830,811
Assets	[1]	641,767				414,098				641,767	414,098
Capital expenditures										16,928	10,230
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue										15,943	16,064	20,891
EIMEA [Member]
Segment operating income										29,870	40,121	15,116
Depreciation and amortization										19,845	21,441	19,965
EIMEA [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										548,439	545,135	549,568
Assets	[1]	578,924				506,336				578,924	506,336
Capital expenditures										15,223	14,317
EIMEA [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue										19,153	19,165	16,189
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment operating income										15,350	15,410	12,953
Depreciation and amortization										8,135	7,484	6,930
Asia Pacific [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										264,191	241,827	230,671
Assets	[1]	278,942				237,920				278,942	237,920
Capital expenditures										4,922	12,694
Asia Pacific [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue										6,498	4,716	10,873
Construction Products [Member]
Segment operating income										(1,120)	3,265	13,766
Depreciation and amortization										16,316	14,977	15,321
Construction Products [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										238,513	256,346	272,692
Assets	[1]	191,535				215,537				191,535	215,537
Capital expenditures										4,132	15,059
Engineering Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income										20,453	17,390	870
Depreciation and amortization										15,088	14,804	12,782
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										289,314	245,235	199,919
Assets	[1]	423,522				408,877				423,522	408,877
Capital expenditures										2,490	3,447
Royal Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income										(37,391)
Depreciation and amortization										6,760
Royal Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue										77,034
Assets	[1]	$ 1,935,128								1,935,128
Capital expenditures										$ 3,033

[1] Segment assets include primarily inventory, accounts receivable, property, plant and equipment and other miscellaneous assets. Corporate assets include primarily corporate property, plant and equipment, deferred tax assets, certain investments and other assets.