English word colonel comes from Latin culmen ((figuratively) height, acme. Stalk. Top, roof, summit.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| culmen | Latin (lat) | (figuratively) height, acme. Stalk. Top, roof, summit. |
| columna | Latin (lat) | (New Latin) column as in a book. Column, pillar. Waterspout. |
| compagna colonnella | Italian (ita) | |
| colonnello | Old Italian (it-oit) | |
| coronnel | Middle French (ca. 1400-1600) (frm) | Colonel; a middle-ranking military officer. |
| colonel | English (eng) | A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines). |