Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Corporal
Cor′po-ral
(kôr′pō̍-ral)
, Noun.
[Corrupted fr. F.
caporal
, It. caporale
, fr. capo
head, chief, L. caput
. See Chief
, and cf. Caporal
.] (Mil.)
A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the United States army he is the lowest noncommissioned officer in a company of infantry. He places and relieves sentinels.
Corporal’s guard
, a detachment such as would be in charge of a corporal for guard duty, etc.; hence, derisively, a very small number of persons.
– Lance corporal
, an assistant corporal on private's pay.
Farrow.
– Ship's corporal
(Naut.)
, a petty officer who assists the master at arms in his various duties.
1.
Belonging or relating to the body; bodily.
“Past corporal toil.” Shak.
Pillories and other
corporal
infections. Milton.
Corporal punishment
(law)
, punishment applied to the body of the offender, including the death penalty, whipping, and imprisonment.
2.
Having a body or substance; not spiritual; material. In this sense now usually written corporeal.
Milton.
A
corporal
heaven . . . .where the stare are. Latimer.
Bodily is opposed to mental; as, bodily affections. Corporeal refers to the whole physical structure or nature, of the body; as, corporeal substance or frame. Corporal, as now used, refers more to punishment or some infliction; as, corporal punishment. To speak of corporeal punishment is an error. Bodily austerities; the corporeal mold.
Webster 1828 Edition
Corporal
CORPORAL
,Noun.
1.
The lowest officer of a company of infantry, next below a sergeant. He has charge over one of the divisions, places and relieves sentinels, &c.2.
The corporal of a ship of war, is an officer under the master at arms, employed to teach the sailors the use of small arms; to attend at the gangways or entering ports, and see that no spirituous liquors are brought, except by permission; to extinguish fire and candles, &c.CORPORAL
,Adj.
1.
Belonging or relating to the body; as corporal pain, opposed to mental.2.
Material; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]