Dictionary.com
definitions

corporal

1
[kawr-per-uhl, -pruhl]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR corporal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of the human body; bodily; physical: corporal suffering.
Zoology. of the body proper, as distinguished from the head and limbs.
personal: corporal possession.
Obsolete. corporeal; belonging to the material world.

RELATED CONTENT

adultism
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Why Is It Called a Blockbuster?
Do you consider yourself a movie buff? The 74th Golden Globe awards aired on January 8, and the nominations for Best Drama, Best Musical or Comedy, and Best Animated Film got us thinking—is Deadpool a drama or a comedy? And on that note, why do we often call superhero movies and summertime smash hits “blockbusters“? The linguistic origins of the blockbuster are fittingly militaristic, since …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

objective, gross, material, human, anatomical, carnal, corporeal, fleshly, fleshy, phenomenal, sensible, substantial, tangible, somatic

Origin of corporal

1
1350–1400; Middle English corporall (< Anglo-French) < Latin corporālis bodily, equivalent to corpor- (stem of corpus corpus) + -ālis -al1
Related formscor·po·ral·i·ty, nouncor·po·ral·ly, adverb

Synonyms for corporal

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR corporal ON THESAURUS.COM
1. material. See physical.

corporal

2
[kawr-per-uh l, -pruh l]

noun

Military.
  1. a noncommissioned officer ranking above a private first class in the U.S. Army or lance corporal in the Marines and below a sergeant.
  2. a similar rank in the armed services of other countries.
(initial capital letter) a U.S. surface-to-surface, single-stage ballistic missile.

Origin of corporal

2
1570–80; < Middle French, variant of caporal (influenced by corporal corporal1) < Italian caporale, apparently contraction of phrase capo corporale corporal head, i.e., head of a body (of soldiers). See caput
Related formscor·po·ral·cy, cor·po·ral·ship, noun

corporal

3
[kawr-per-uh l, -pruh l]

noun Ecclesiastical.

a fine cloth, usually of linen, on which the consecrated elements are placed or with which they are covered.

Origin of corporal

3
1350–1400; Middle English corporalle < Medieval Latin corporale (pallium) eucharistic (altar cloth); replacing earlier corporas < Old French < Latin, as above
Also called communion cloth.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for corporal

Contemporary Examples of corporal

Historical Examples of corporal

  • He asked for a corporal or a sergeant who could write and stand fire at the same time.

  • This, however, did not prevent him from calling lustily for the "corporal of the guard."

  • To the corporal's inquiry he replied that Ferry had just passed on.

    The Cavalier

    George Washington Cable

  • A corporal was shaking me and whispering "Make no noise; mount and fall in."

    The Cavalier

    George Washington Cable

  • We've jammed it, corporal, but another good kick will fetch it; now!

    The Cavalier

    George Washington Cable

British Dictionary definitions for corporal

corporal

1

adjective

of or relating to the body; bodily
an obsolete word for corporeal
Derived Formscorporality, nouncorporally, adverb

Word Origin for corporal

C14: from Latin corporālis of the body, from corpus body

corporal

2

noun

a noncommissioned officer junior to a sergeant in the army, air force, or marines
(in the Royal Navy) a petty officer who assists the master-at-arms
Derived Formscorporalship, noun

Word Origin for corporal

C16: from Old French, via Italian, from Latin caput head; perhaps also influenced in Old French by corps body (of men)

corporal

3

corporale (ˌkɔːpəˈreɪlɪ)

noun

a white linen cloth on which the bread and wine are placed during the Eucharist

Word Origin for corporal

C14: from Medieval Latin corporāle pallium eucharistic altar cloth, from Latin corporālis belonging to the body, from corpus body (of Christ)
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
Word Origin and History for corporal
n.

lowest noncommissioned army officer, 1570s, from Middle French corporal, from Italian caporale "a corporal," from capo "chief, head," from Latin caput "head" (see capitulum). So called because he was in charge of a body of troops. Perhaps influenced by Italian corpo, from Latin corps "body." Or corps may be the source and caput the influence, as the OED suggests.

adj.

"of or belonging to the body," late 14c., from Old French corporal (12c., Modern French corporel) "of the body, physical, strong," from Latin corporalis "pertaining to the body," from corpus (genitive corporis) "body" (see corps). Corporal punishment "punishment of the body" (as opposed to fine or loss of rank or privilege) is from 1580s. Related: Corporality.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper