caporal

¹ American  

[kap-er-uhl, kap-uh-ral] / ˈkæp ər əl, ˌkæp əˈræl /

noun

1. a variety of tobacco.

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caporal ² American  

[kap-uh-ral] / ˈkæp əˌræl /

noun

Southwestern U.S.

1. an overseer, especially of a cattle ranch.

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caporal British  

/ ˌkæpəˈrɑːl /

noun

1. a strong coarse dark tobacco

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Etymology

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; see corporal ²

Example Sentences

He frowned majestically, and he smoked a caporal cigarette as if it were a Havana cigar.

From The Azure Rose A Novel by Kauffman, Reginald Wright

In answer to your question, I shall begin by informing you that I have not set eyes on the petit caporal, as some affect to style the Chief Consul.

From Paris as It Was and as It Is by Blagdon, Francis W.

With arms folded and head bent, he looked more le gros caporal than ever.

From Angelot A Story of the First Empire by Price, Eleanor C. (Eleanor Catherine)

For there's the cafe open wide, And there they set me up; And there I smoke my caporal Above my cider cup; And play manille a while before I hurry home to sup.

From Ballads of a Bohemian by Service, Robert W. (Robert William)

Only they do not look like it always, carelessly chatting behind their modest glasses of beer, often from amid the clouds of incense floating from cheap cigars, or the equally economic caporal tobacco.

From Mated from the Morgue A tale of the Second Empire by O'Shea, John Augustus