bird colonel

English

Etymology

From the insignia of rank, which bears a depiction of an eagle.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

bird colonel (plural bird colonels)

1. (US, slang, military) A member of the United States armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.

   Synonyms: chicken colonel, full bird colonel, full eagle colonel, full eagle

   • 1960 July 4, “Pink Is for Learning”, in Time:

     This month at 47, Colonel Polich retires after 20 years of service; as a reservist and an engineer, bird colonel is about the highest peacetime rank he can achieve.

See also

• iron eagle