corporal

A corporal is defined as a low ranking non-commissioned officer in the military.

(noun)

A man in the military who is below sergeant is an example of a corporal.

The definition of corporal is something related to the body.

(adjective)

When you punish someone by harming his body and causing pain (such as by spanking the person) this is an example of corporal punishment.

See corporal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the lowest-ranking noncommissioned officer, just below a sergeant; specif., an enlisted person in the fourth grade in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps

Origin: < Fr caporal < It caporale, a corporal < capo, chief, head < L caput, head: sp. infl. by assoc. with corps or corporal

Related Forms:

adjective

Origin: L corporalis < corpus (gen. corporis), body: see corpus

Related Forms:

noun

Eccles. a small linen cloth put on the center of the altar, on which the bread and chalice are placed for the Eucharist

Origin: OFr < ML corporale < corporalis (palla), body (cloth): see corporal

See corporal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Of or relating to the body. See Synonyms at bodily.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin corporālis

Origin: , from corpus, corpor-, body; see k^wrep- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

noun

a. Abbr. CPL or Cpl. A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Army that is above private first class and below sergeant.
b. Abbr. Cpl or Cpl. A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Marine Corps that is above lance corporal and below sergeant.
One who holds the rank of corporal.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete French

Origin: , alteration of caporal

Origin: , from Old Italian caporale

Origin: , from capo, head

Origin: , from Latin caput; see kaput- in Indo-European roots

noun
Ecclesiastical

A white linen cloth on which the consecrated elements are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: and from Medieval Latin corporāle