chicken colonel
English edit
Etymology edit
From the insignia of rank, which bears a depiction of an eagle.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun edit
chicken colonel (plural chicken colonels)
- (US, slang, dated, military) A member of the US armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
- 1951 May 14, “The Face Is Familiar”, in Time:
- 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.