1. military rank in UK: an officer in the British Army or Royal Marines of a rank above lieutenant colonel
2. military rank in United States: an officer in the US Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force of a rank above lieutenant colonel
3. military rank in Canada: an officer in the Canadian Army or Air Force of a rank above lieutenant colonel
4. US honorary US title: an honorary title in a state militia, bestowed by the governor in some US states, notably Kentucky
[Mid-16th century. Via obsolete French coronel< Italian colonnella, literally 'little column' < colonna 'column' < Latin columna (see column)]
colonelcy noun
colonelship noun
Spelling Note
colonel or kernel? Do not confuse the spelling of colonel and kernel, which sound similar. A colonel is an officer in the armed forces. A kernel is the edible part of a nut or the central part of something.
