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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.

Cor′po-ral

,
Adj.
[L.
corporalis
, fr.
corpus
body. See
Corpse
.]
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.
Syn.
Corporal
,
Bodily
,
Corporeal
.
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.
[L., head.]
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.
[L., body.]
1.
Belonging or relating to the body; as corporal pain, opposed to mental.
2.
Material; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]

Definition 2024


corporal

corporal

English

Adjective

corporal (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) Having a physical, tangible body; corporeal.
    • 1603-06, Macbeth: Ac.1 Sc3, Wm. Shakespeare.
      Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted as breath into the wind.
  2. Of or pertaining to the body, especially the human body.
Synonyms
Translations
Derived terms

Etymology 2

From French caporal, probably influenced by corporal (above), from the Italian caporale, from capo (head, leader) from the Latin caput (head).

Noun

corporal (plural corporals)

  1. (military) A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code OR-4. The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.
  2. A non-commissioned officer rank in the police force, below a sergeant but above a private or patrolman.

Synonyms

Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

From the Latin corporale, the neuter of corporalis representing the doctrine of transubstantiation in which the Eucharist becomes the body of Christ.

Noun

corporal (plural corporals)

  1. (ecclesiastical) The white linen cloth on which the elements of the Eucharist are placed; a communion cloth.
    • 1891, Oscar Wilde, “XI”, in The Picture of Dorian Gray:
      He had [] many corporals, chalice-veils, and sudaria
Derived terms
  • corporal oath
Translations

Asturian

Etymology

From Latin corporālis.

Adjective

corporal (epicene, plural corporales)

  1. corporal, bodily

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin corporālis.

Adjective

corporal m, f (masculine and feminine plural corporals)

  1. corporal

Noun

corporal m (plural corporals)

  1. corporal (linen cloth)

Galician

Etymology

From Latin corporālis.

Adjective

corporal m, f (plural corporais)

  1. corporal, bodily

Noun

corporal m (plural corporais)

  1. corporal (linen cloth)

Old French

Adjective

corporal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular corporale)

  1. Alternative form of corporel

Portuguese

Etymology

From Latin corporālis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

corporal m, f (plural corporais, comparable)

  1. corporal, carnal

Quotations

For usage examples of this term, see Citations:corporal.

Noun

corporal m (plural corporais)

  1. corporal

Quotations

For usage examples of this term, see Citations:corporal.


Spanish

Etymology

From Latin corporālis.

Adjective

corporal m, f (plural corporales)

  1. corporal, of or relating to the corpus or body, bodywide or systemic

Noun

corporal m (plural corporales)

  1. corporal (linen cloth)