Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COL'O-NEL, a. [cur'nel; Fr. colonel; It. colonnello; Arm. coronal; Sp. coronel; Port. coronel; from It. colonna, Fr. colonne, a column, It. colonnello, the column of a book.]

The chief commander of a regiment of troops, whether infantry or cavalry. He ranks next below a brigadier-general. In England, colonel-lieutenant is the commander of a regiment of guards, of which the king, prince, or other person of eminence is colonel. Lieutenant-colonel is the second officer in a regiment, and commands it in the absence of the colonel.