in military matters, the commander in chief of a regiment, whether horse, foot, or dragoons.

Skinner derives the word from colony, being of opinion, the chiefs of colonies, called coloniales, might give the name to chiefs of forces. In the French and Spanish armies, colonel is confined to the infantry and dragoons: the commanding officer of a regiment of horse they usually call mestre de camp. Formerly, instead of colonel, the French used the word coronel; and this old spelling comes nearer to our common way of pronouncing the word colonel.

A colonel may lay any officer of his regiment in arrest, but must acquaint the general with it; he is not allowed a guard, only a sentry from the quarter-guard.

COLONEL-Lieutenant, he who commands a regiment of guards, whereof the king, prince, or other person of the first eminence, is colonel. These colonel-lieutenants have always a colonel's commission, and are usually general officers.

Lieutenant Colonel, the second officer in a regiment, who is at the head of the captains, and commands in the absence of the colonel.