Kentucky Colonel

English

Alternative forms

• Col. (name title prefix abbreviation)
• Colonel (as legal title before a name)
• Kentucky 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 derives 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

Noun

Kentucky Colonel (plural Kentucky Colonels)

1. 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.
2. A natural person who has been recognized with the style of Honorable by the Governor of Kentucky and is granted a Kentucky Colonel Commission.
3. A person holding the honorable title of colonel who 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.

Usage notes

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

Related terms

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