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.]Definition 2024
corporal
corporal
English
Adjective
corporal (not comparable)
- (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.
- 1603-06, Macbeth: Ac.1 Sc3, Wm. Shakespeare.
- Of or pertaining to the body, especially the human body.
Synonyms
Translations
corporeal — see corporeal
of the body
|
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)
- (military) A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code OR-4. The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.
- A non-commissioned officer rank in the police force, below a sergeant but above a private or patrolman.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
military rank
|
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)
- (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
ecclesiastical: cloth on which the elements of the Eucharist are placed
Catalan
Etymology
From Latin corporālis.
Adjective
corporal m, f (masculine and feminine plural corporals)
Noun
corporal m (plural corporals)
- corporal (linen cloth)
Galician
Etymology
From Latin corporālis.
Adjective
corporal m, f (plural corporais)
Noun
corporal m (plural corporais)
- corporal (linen cloth)
Old French
Adjective
corporal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular corporale)
- Alternative form of corporel
Portuguese
Etymology
From Latin corporālis.
Pronunciation
- (Portugal) IPA(key): /kuɾpuˈɾaɫ/
Adjective
corporal m, f (plural corporais, comparable)
Quotations
For usage examples of this term, see Citations:corporal.
Noun
corporal m (plural corporais)
Quotations
For usage examples of this term, see Citations:corporal.
Spanish
Etymology
From Latin corporālis.
Adjective
corporal m, f (plural corporales)
Noun
corporal m (plural corporales)
- corporal (linen cloth)