colonel English · revision 5368

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1548|origins=la columna}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɜː.nəl/, US /ˈkɝː.nəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|coronel]], with the later spelling from Middle French colonel,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[it|colonnello|t=commander of the column of soldiers at the head of a regiment]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|it|colonna|t=column]], from [[la|columna|t=pillar]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The French r is due to dissimilation of the two l's,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and Spanish and Portuguese coronel show the same change, perhaps also influenced by corona.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[column]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The commander of a regiment: 1548 in Barnhart, spelled coronel, and 1548–83 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The spelling colonel came into English in 1583 from a variant French form,^(Barnhart 1988) and was established in learned writing through translations of Italian military manuals in the late 16th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Pronunciations with r and with l existed side by side until about 1650 according to Etymonline, or the early 19th century according to Barnhart, but the r pronunciation won while the spelling colonel stayed.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The abbreviation ''col.'' is attested by 1707.^(Etymonline) In the southern United States it is a courtesy title.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1548 – coronel, a regimental commander.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1583 – the spelling colonel.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1650 – the r pronunciation prevails.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1707 – ''col.''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An officer in an army, air force or the US Marine Corps, ranking above a [[lieutenant colonel]] and below a [[brigadier]] or brigadier general.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An honorary title given in some southern US states.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[colonelcy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[column]]

+ * [[colonnade]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}