Objection!

Faldage's original link to Bartleby is less than authoritative. It has this to say, emphasis added by me:

1a. abbr. COL or Col or Col. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps that is above lieutenant colonel and below brigadier general. b. One who holds this rank or a similar rank in another military organization. 2. An honorary nonmilitary title awarded by some states of the United States.

Very good. In one foul swoop, it grabs the word and claims it as an Americanism. So ... the British and French armies didn't have colonels earlier than 1776? Oh, my mistake. I should have realised!


The idiot also known as Capfka ...