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caporal1

[kap-er-uh l, kap-uh-ral]
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noun
  1. a variety of tobacco.
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Origin of caporal1

1840–50; short for French tabac du caporal tobacco of the corporal2

caporal2

[kap-uh-ral]
noun Southwestern U.S.
  1. an overseer, especially of a cattle ranch.
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Origin of caporal2

1590–1600; < Spanish: chief, manager < Italian; see corporal2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for caporal

Historical Examples

  • And he took a caporal from the packet before him and slowly lit it.

    The White Lie

    William Le Queux

  • He walked off with Freda, puffing at his thin roll of caporal.

  • "Wait, mon Caporal; I have something to tell you," said Picpon quickly.

    Under Two Flags

    Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

  • Ambrose lit a black Caporal cigarette—he had bought a packet on his way.

    The Secret Glory

    Arthur Machen

  • "Purposely, mon Caporal," said Petit Picpon, with a sapient nod that spoke volumes.

    Under Two Flags

    Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

British Dictionary definitions for caporal

caporal

noun
  1. a strong coarse dark tobacco
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Word Origin

C19: from French tabac du caporal corporal's tobacco, denoting its superiority to tabac du soldat soldier's tobacco
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012