Corporal Definition

kôrpər-əl, kôrprəl

adjective

Of the body; bodily.

Webster's New World

Personal.

Webster's New World

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

A noncommissioned rank in the US Army that is above private first class and below sergeant.

American Heritage

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.

Webster's New World

One who holds the rank of corporal.

American Heritage

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

Webster's New World

(military) A non-commissioned officer army rank with NATO code OR-4. The rank below a sergeant but above a lance corporal and private.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Corporal

Singular:

corporal

Plural:

corporals

Middle English from Old French and from Medieval Latin corporāle both from Latin corporālis of the body (the Eucharistic bread being representative of Christ's body) from corpus corpor- body kwrep- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Obsolete French alteration of caporal from Old Italian caporale from capo head from Latin caput kaput- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From the Latin corporale, the neuter of corporalis representing the doctrine of transubstantiation in which the eucharist becomes the body of Christ.

From Wiktionary
Corrupted from the French caporal, from the Italian caporale, from capo (“head, leader”) from the Latin caput (“head”).

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin corporālis from corpus corpor- body kwrep- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French corporal (French corporel), from Latin corporālis, from Latin corpus (“body”); compare corporeal.

From Wiktionary