English

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.
   • 1960, "Pink Is for Learning," Time, 4 July,

     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.

Synonyms

• chicken colonel
• full bird colonel