lieutenant colonel

a commissioned officer ranking next below a colonel and next above a major.

Origin of lieutenant colonel

First recorded in 1590–1600

The Israeli military quickly suspended the officer, a lieutenant-colonel, and stressed that the beating ran against Army policies.

Mira Ten-Hagen’s Viral Video: Israel and Foreign Activists Clash |Dan Ephron |April 17, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Lieutenant-Colonel Abercromby, who had led the only serious sortie from Yorktown, chewed his sword in impotent rage.

Washington in Victory |Piers Brendon |October 10, 2008 |DAILY BEAST
Lieutenant-Colonel Skinner and seven enlisted men were wounded—none of them fatally.

The County Regiment |Dudley Landon Vaill
His experience and ability soon marked him out for command, and he was chosen by his comrades as lieutenant-colonel.

Napoleon's Marshals |R. P. Dunn-Pattison

He has recalled our regiment from this unhealthy place, and he has promoted Gascoigne to be our lieutenant-colonel.

Tales And Novels, Volume 7 (of 10) |Maria Edgeworth
His commission as lieutenant-colonel bore date April 16, 1898.

South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 6) |Louis Creswicke
The chief commissary, Lieutenant-Colonel ——, is a fussy fellow, who with much show accomplishes but little.

Recollections of the Civil War |Charles A. Dana

lieutenant colonel

an officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a colonel in certain armies, air forces, and marine corps