The origins of the word was Italian for column. The word translated to French as coronel, so the pronunciation changed, but the spelling did not change.
I suspect, if you begin by saying the word 'colonel' syllable by syllable, and gradually bring it up to normal speed you'll see how it has been contracted by the 'speed' of speech.
Take for example, the Strait of Gibraltar, which was named after Gebel Tarik. Run those two names together at speed and you can see how they become Gibraltar.
May words in our language have been adapted that way. Another favorite of mine is 'extraordinary' wich is 'extra' and 'ordinary' put together as one word. You can say them both together with emphasis on making two distinct sounds, but you'll find it still sounds like one word.
As to whether or not I am spot-on re: 'colonel', I don't know, but it too has been one of my pet words to decode. It also may not be a word with an English root, and may have another history altogether. Usually dictionaries will give you the root language.
colonel
colonel
Colonel Henry Blake Colonel Sherman T. Potter Colonel Donald Penobscot 1 Played by Besson Carroll Colonel Donald Penobscot 2 Played by Mike Henry Colonel Sam Flagg STAND INS WHEN THE COLONEL LEFT Major Frank Burns and Major Margret Hulohan Captain Benjerman Franklin Perice Captain Trapper Jan Macantier Captain Honneycut
Colonel Potter takes over after Henry Blake.
The first colonel, or commander of the M*A*S*H 4077th, was Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Blake.
C-o-l-o-n-e-l Colonel
makinna Davis was here
yes
at the end of the credits it was samual l Jackson
The correct spelling is "colonel."
alcohol, balloon, colonel, follows, loosely, outpoll, rollout
Colonel
Here are some: Would. Could. Should. Lincoln. Colonel. Salmon.
Oscar L. Jackson has written: 'The colonel's diary' -- subject(s): Ohio inf, Ohio infantry. 63d regt.,, Regimental histories, Personal narratives, 93rd, History
The colonel is the boy's mother. (This is the same "gender" basis as others with a "doctor".)
The word "colonel" is derived from the Italian word "colonello," which comes from "columna" meaning column, as soldiers would march in columns. The pronunciation evolved over time, and the initial "l" sound was dropped, leading to the pronunciation with the "r" sound.
A bird colonel is a member of the US armed forces with the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.