First Known Use: 1567
Dictionary
colonel
noun col·o·nel \ˈkər-nəl\
: an officer of high rank in the army, air force, or marines : a military officer who ranks above a major
Full Definition of COLONEL
1
a : a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general b : lieutenant colonel
2
: a minor titular official of a state especially in southern or midland United States —used as an honorific title
— col·o·nel·cy \-nəl-sē\ noun
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Origin of COLONEL
alteration of coronel, from Middle French, modification of Old Italian colonnello column of soldiers, colonel, diminutive of colonna column, from Latin columna
COLONELCY Defined for Kids
colonel
noun col·o·nel \ˈkər-nəl\
Definition of COLONEL for Kids
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a major and below a general
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