noun

colonel

colonel

The colonel gave orders to his troops.

The colonel gave orders to his troops.

She was promoted to the rank of colonel.

She was promoted to the rank of colonel.

((a colonel)) a military officer The colonel commanded the battalion.

officer, commander

From Old Italian 'colonnello' (commander of a column of soldiers), from 'colonna' (column). The strange English pronunciation comes from a variant spelling 'coronel'.

It's pronounced 'kernel', like a corn kernel. Imagine a military officer who loves popcorn.

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