colonel

Meanings

Noun

  • A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines).

Verb

  • To act as or like a colonel.

Origin

  • First attested 1548, from Middle French coronnel, from Old Italian colonnello, from compagnia colonnella, from Latin columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a Proto-Indo-European *kelH-. See hill, holm.

Modern English dictionary

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