'colonel' originates from the French word 'coronel', which was derived from the Italian 'colonnello', where 'colonna' meant 'column' or 'pillar'.

'colonnello' transformed into the French word 'coronel', and eventually became the modern English word 'colonel' through Middle English.

Initially, it referred to the leader of a column of soldiers, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a specific military rank.