COLONEL (from the Italian eolonello, the leader of a column) is the highest officer of a regiment; any grade above this converts him into a general-officer belonging to the army collectively, rather than to any one regiment. Before the reign of Elizabeth the chief officer of an English regiment was capt., but in 1588 the title of C. had become familiar. In the British army at the present day, except in the artillery and engineers, the office of regimental C. is a sinecure, the real active commander of the battalion being the lieut.col. The C. receives higher pay and dignity. The cols. are Bens., who have had what is called a regiment "given to them," as a reward for long service, and virtu ally as a retirement. The pay, except in the guards (where it is higher), is £1000 a year. The army estimates provide for about 150 regimental (otherwise called " honorary ") cols. of cavalry and infantry, and for about a sixth of that number cols. commandant in
connection with the artillery and engineers. There is a frequent outcry against these appointments when viewed as sinecures, but looked upon as retirements for deserving old officers there is little that is objectionable in them. The rank of C. was above those which were purchasable. See COM3ISS1ONS, ARMY. Apart from regimental rank there is the army or brevet rank of C., through which all officers must pass on the way to general-officer. It is attained by specified service in certain positions as licut.col. In the Austrian, Prussian, and Russian armies, where the regiments are very large, the colonelcies are mostly honorary posts, held by emperors, kings, princes, and other dis tinguished persons.