Colonel

Quick meaning: Colonel is a noun meaning An honorary civilian title bestowed by some southern US states, most commonly Kentucky; notably Colonel Sanders of KFC.

Meaning

An honorary civilian title bestowed by some southern US states, most commonly Kentucky; notably Colonel Sanders of KFC.

More Meanings

1. (Southern US, dated) An informal title used to address an elderly man.
2. (intransitive) To act as or like a colonel.
3. 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).
4. (US) A form of address for an auctioneer, from the American Civil War practice of commanding officers organizing the public sale of seized goods.
5. (historical) A military leader, distinct from the modern professional military rank.

Example Sentences

General Charles-Maximilian Fiennes was made colonel of the army.

Then did Sir Knight abandon dwelling, And out he rode Colonelling.

"Colonel" was often used as an honorific, indicating no actual military service: between 1792 and 1916, according to Ron Bryant, a curator at the Kentucky Historical Society, 400 of the 650 colonels commissioned were honorary.

The colonel and his sponsor made a queer contrast: Greystone long and stringy, with a face that seemed as if a cold wind was eternally playing on it. […] But there was not a more lascivious reprobate and gourmand in all London than this same Greystone.

Word Forms

• colonels
• coloneling
• colonelling
• coloneled
• colonelled

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include brigadier, regiment, commandant, commander, captain, commodore.

Related Dictionary Tools