n. 1.  a.  A commissioned rank in the US Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general. b.  One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization. 2.  An honorary nonmilitary title awarded by some states of the United States. [Alteration of obsolete coronel, from French, from Old Italian colonello, from  diminutive of colonna, column of soldiers, from Latin columna, column; see  kel-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] colonel·cy,  colonel·ship′ n.  | 
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