corporal
noun
[ ˈkɔːp(ə)r(ə)l ]
• a rank of non-commissioned officer in the army, above lance corporal or private first class and below sergeant.
• a petty officer who attended solely to police matters, under the master-at-arms.
• another term for fallfish.
Origin:
mid 16th century: from French, obsolete variant of caporal, from Italian caporale, probably based on Latin corpus, corpor- ‘body (of troops)’, with a change of spelling in Italian due to association with capo ‘head’.
corporal
adjective
• relating to the human body.
Similar:
bodily,
fleshly,
corporeal,
carnal,
mortal,
earthly,
worldly,
physical,
material,
real,
actual,
tangible,
substantial,
somatic,
Origin:
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin corporalis, from corpus, corpor- ‘body’.
corporal
noun
• a cloth on which the chalice and paten are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist.
Origin:
Middle English: from medieval Latin corporale (pallium) ‘body (cloth)’, from Latin corpus, corpor- ‘body’.
