chicken colonel

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noun Military Slang.

a full colonel, as distinguished from a lieutenant colonel.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

Also called bird colonel.

Origin of chicken colonel

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Wearing the right foot of a chicken was considered good luck.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the chicken today might be the least exotic bird one can think of, it was once a gift that wowed kings.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The chicken, to this day, is valued for its medicinal properties.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Rome, he writes, the chicken “predicted the outcome of battles.”
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Lawler is more interested in the more fascinating story of how the chicken spread.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Squinty could look out, but the slats were as close together as those in a chicken coop, and the little pig could not get out.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
The Colonel and his two friends rode back towards the south, from whence they came.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
"Colonel Shaffer is a few miles to the west with about five hundred men," replied Harry.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The Colonel read the dispatch of Captain Duffield, sitting on his bed in his nightclothes.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
It was eleven o'clock before the river was crossed and the headquarters of Colonel Guitar reached.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn