All western military ranks descend from three sources. From renaissance mercenary titles come corporal (as though "corps man", but actually from French caporal, "chief"), sergeant ("servant"), captain ("head man"), and general (a shortening of the term "captain general"). From the era of the Napoleonic Wars came colonel (head of a column), lieutenant ("one who stands in lieu of"), major (a shortening of "adjunct major" or aide de camp), and marshall ("stable manager"). From World War II come a number of specialist ranks.