caporal

¹

[ kap-er-uhl, kap-uh-ral ]

noun

1. a variety of tobacco.

caporal

²

[ kap-uh-ral ]

noun

, Southwestern U.S.

1. an overseer, especially of a cattle ranch.

caporal

/ ˌkæpəˈrɑːl /

noun

1. a strong coarse dark tobacco

Word History and Origins

Origin of caporal¹

1840–50; short for French tabac du caporal tobacco of the corporal ²

Origin of caporal²

1590–1600; < Spanish: chief, manager < Italian; corporal ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of caporal¹

C19: from French tabac du caporal corporal's tobacco, denoting its superiority to tabac du soldat soldier's tobacco

Example Sentences

A brown packet of caporal and a book of cigarette-papers—a cigarette rolled—how good it would be!

From Project Gutenberg

He entered the shop and emerged, not with caporal and cigarette-papers, but with the twelve Honduras stamps.

From Project Gutenberg

He produced a short briar-root pipe, and stuffed it with the last shreds of French Caporal tobacco that remained in his pouch.

From Project Gutenberg

Two others,—one an extremely small animal, called the “petit Caporal,”—were favoured with places in the interior.

From Project Gutenberg

He took up his porcelain pipe and filled it from the blue packet of caporal that lay on the table with the oilskin cover.

From Project Gutenberg