5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Corporal  \Cor"po*ral\  (k[^o]r"p[-o]*ral),  n.  [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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Corporal  \Cor"po*ral\  (k[^o]r"p[-o]*ral),  Corporale 
  \Cor`po*ra"le\  (-r?"l?),  n.  [LL.  corporale:  cf  F.  corporal.  See 
  {Corporal},a.] 
  A  fine  linen  cloth,  on  which  the  sacred  elements  are 
  consecrated  in  the  eucharist,  or  with  which  they  are  covered; 
  a  communion  cloth. 
 
  {Corporal  oath},  a  solemn  oath;  --  so  called  from  the  fact 
  that  it  was  the  ancient  usage  for  the  party  taking  it  to 
  touch  the  corporal,  or  cloth  that  covered  the  consecrated 
  elements. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Corporal  \Cor"po*ral\,  a.  [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. 
 
  What  seemed  corporal  melted  As  breath  into  the  wind. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Syn:  {Corporal},  {Bodily},  {Corporeal}. 
 
  Usage:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  corporal 
  adj  1:  affecting  or  characteristic  of  the  body  as  opposed  to  the 
  mind  or  spirit;  "bodily  needs";  "a  corporal  defect"; 
  "corporeal  suffering";  "a  somatic  symptom  or  somatic 
  illness"  [syn:  {bodily},  {corporeal},  {somatic}] 
  2:  possessing  or  existing  in  bodily  form  "what  seemed  corporal 
  melted  as  breath  into  the  wind"-  Shakespeare;  "an 
  incarnate  spirit";  "`corporate'  is  an  archaic  term"  [syn: 
  {bodied},  {corporate},  {embodied},  {incarnate}] 
  n  :  a  noncommissioned  officer  in  the  army  or  airforce  or  marines 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  CORPORAL,  n.  A  man  who  occupies  the  lowest  rung  of  the  military 
  ladder. 
 
  Fiercely  the  battle  raged  and  sad  to  tell 
  Our  corporal  heroically  fell! 
  Fame  from  her  height  looked  down  upon  the  brawl 
  And  said:  "He  hadn't  very  far  to  fall." 
  Giacomo  Smith 
 
 

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