n.1 an army officer in command of a regiment, immediately below a brigadier in rank.
2 US an officer of corresponding rank in the Air Force.
3 lieutenant-colonel.
Phrases and idioms:
Colonel Blimp see BLIMP n. 1.
Derivatives:
colonelcy n. (pl. -ies).
Etymology: obs. F coronel f. It. colonnello f. colonna COLUMN