chicken colonel

noun

, Military Slang.

1. a full colonel, as distinguished from a lieutenant colonel.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chicken colonel¹

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

A Kentucky Fried Chicken Colonel Sanders logo stolen from a restaurant has been found hidden under the suspected thief's bed.

From BBC

"It might fizzle, and I don't want to be connected with anything that fizzles," drawls Kentucky Fried Chicken Colonel Norland Sanders, 86, fearful that a musical version of his life might prove to be a turkey.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1944, when many of his West Point classmates�including Omar Bradley and Dwight Eisenhower�had won general's stars, Van Fleet was still a chicken colonel commanding a regiment.

From Time Magazine Archive

Because he looked even younger than he was, he had to learn to endure gibes about his age: once while in Tunisia, in mufti, he was ordered by a chicken colonel to hustle up a drink, complied gracefully.

From Time Magazine Archive

Of his classmates, a dozen or more had won stars while Van Fleet was still a chicken colonel.

From Time Magazine Archive