1. military rank in United States: an officer in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force of a rank above lieutenant colonel
2. military rank in Canada: an officer in the Canadian Army or Air Force of a rank above lieutenant colonel
3. military rank in U.K.: an officer in the British Army or Royal Marines of a rank above lieutenant colonel
4. honorary title: an honorary title in a state militia, bestowed by the governor in some states. This practice is most closely associated with Kentucky, but also occurs in the states of Louisiana and Tennessee.
[Mid-16th century. Via obsolete French coronel< Italian colonnella, literally "little column" < colonna "column" < Latin columna (see column)]
colo·nel·cy noun
colo·nel·ship 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.
