colonel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

WordNet

Colo"nel noun
Etymology
F. colonel, It. colonello, prop., the chief or commander of a column, fr. colonna column, L. columna. See Column.
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) The chief officer of a regiment; an officer ranking next above a lieutenant colonel and next below a brigadier general.

Webster 1913