corporal Hear it!

corporal1 definition

cor·po·ral (kôr′pə rəl, -prəl)

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

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

Related Forms:

corporal2 definition

cor·po·ral (kôr′pə rəl, -prəl)

adjective

  1. of the body; bodily
  2. Now Rare personal
  3. Obsolete corporeal (sense )

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

Related Forms:

corporal3 definition

cor·po·ral (kôr′pə rəl)

noun

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

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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