Kentucky Colonel

English

Alternative forms

Col. (name title prefix abbreviation)
Colonel (as legal title before a name)
Kentucky colonel (for a single colonel)
Kentucky Colonels (not plural, for single group of colonels)
Kentucky colonels (more than one colonel)

Etymology

Origin unconfirmed from 1775. As a compound word that was merged from two lexemes the title is a demonym and exonym label that emerged in the early 19th century to refer to the old colonial leaders of Kentucky. In 1896, the state adopted the term as an official referencial title and commission for civilian officers with access to the governor.

Kentucky from an Iroquoian word meaning "prairie"; compare Mohawk kenhtà:ke (“the meadow”), Seneca gëdá'geh (“at the field”), combined with the title Colonel which meant "head of colony, company or county" as it was originated from the place representative of its territorial leaders and founders as of 1775-1792.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kənˈtʌki/
- Kentucky (US) (file)
  
  Colonel (US) (file)
Rhymes: -ʌki

Usage notes

When used as a title, the first letter is always capitalized.

Noun

Kentucky Colonel (plural Kentucky colonels)

The greatest title of authority and honor bestown by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, recognizing noteworthy accomplishments, actions, deeds and service to a community, state or a nation.
A natural person that has been recognized with the style of Honorable by the Governor of Kentucky is granted a Kentucky Colonel Commission.
A person beholding of the honorable title of colonel that lived in or migrated to Kentucky as the result of a land bounty deed.
- April 20, 1833, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The National Gazette (page 1)
  The scene is laid at New York, in the house of Mr. Freeman, a New York merchant, who is uncle to the Kentucky Colonel.
- 2019, Albert W. A. Schmid, How to Drink Like a Spy (page 81)
  President George H. W. Bush was a Kentucky Colonel.

Related terms

Honorable Colonel (obsolete)
honorary colonel (current)
Kentucky Admiral (same origin)