bird colonel
nounEtymology From the insignia of rank, which bears a depiction of an eagle.
1
Government, Military, Politics, War US, Slang A member of the United States armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
- 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.1960 July 4, “Pink Is for Learning”, in Time:
- Related terms
- iron eagle