Definitions for: Corporal


[n] a noncommissioned officer in the army or airforce or marines
[adj] possessing or existing in bodily form; "what seemed corporal melted as breath into the wind"- Shakespeare; "an incarnate spirit"; "`corporate' is an archaic term"
[adj] 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"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.


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.


Cor"po*ral (k[^o]r"p[-o]*ral), Corporale

Synonyms: bodied, bodily, corporate, corporeal, embodied, incarnate, material, physical, somatic

See Also: noncom, noncommissioned officer

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