Cor"po*ral (kôr"p?*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. 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 (kôr"p?*ral),
||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.