Webster's English Dictionary

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colonel

col.o.nel \'k*rn-*l\ \-*l-se-\ n [alter, of coronel, fr. MF, modif. of OIt 
   colonnello column of sold]iers, colonel, dim. of colonna column, fr. L 
   columna 1a: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps 
   ranking  above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general 1b: 
   LIEUTENANT COLONEL  2: a minor titular official of a state esp. in southern 
   or midland U.S. -  used as an honorific title - col.o.nel.cy n