colonel

Where does the word "colonel" come from? It comes from Latin columna, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1580s).

Colonel’s story begins in Latin: columna meant “a pillar, column.” A plain word for a pillar. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as colonnella. Named the commander at the head of a regiment's 'little column' of soldiers. From there it passed into French as coronel by 1500s. French turned 'colonel' into 'coronel'; English kept the 'l' spelling but the 'r' pronunciation. It reached English by 1580s as colonel. The spelling was reformed to match the Italian original, though the French-derived pronunciation persisted. Today, colonel means a senior military officer rank, above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient columna "a pillar, column", a plain word for a pillar.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval colonnella "commander of a column of troops", named the commander at the head of a regiment's 'little column' of soldiers.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s coronel "a military commander's rank", French turned 'colonel' into 'coronel'; English kept the 'l' spelling but the 'r' pronunciation.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1580s colonel "a senior military officer rank", the spelling was reformed to match the Italian original, though the French-derived pronunciation persisted.