Corporal /(kôr"pō̇*ral)/

Cor·po·ral

Corporal

n.
  1. A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the United States army he is the lowest noncommissioned officer in a company of infantry. He places and relieves sentinels. (Mil.)

Phrases & Compounds
Corporal's guard
a detachment such as would be in charge of a corporal for guard duty, etc.; hence, derisively, a very small number of persons.
Lance corporal
an assistant corporal on private's pay.
Ship's corporal
a petty officer who assists the master at arms in his various duties.

Corporal

a.
  1. Belonging or relating to the body; bodily.
    Pillories and other corporal infections.
  2. Having a body or substance; not spiritual; material. In this sense now usually written corporeal.
    A corporal heaven . . . .where the stare are.
    What seemed corporal melted As breath into the wind.

Phrases & Compounds
Corporal punishment
punishment applied to the body of the offender, including the death penalty, whipping, and imprisonment.
Syn. -- Corporal, Bodily, Corporeal.

Bodily is opposed to mental; as, bodily affections. Corporeal refers to the whole physical structure or nature, of the body; as, corporeal substance or frame. Corporal, as now used, refers more to punishment or some infliction; as, corporal punishment. To speak of corporeal punishment is an error. Bodily austerities; the corporeal mold.

Corporal

n.
  1. A fine linen cloth, on which the sacred elements are consecrated in the eucharist, or with which they are covered; a communion cloth.

Phrases & Compounds
Corporal oath
a solemn oath; -- so called from the fact that it was the ancient usage for the party taking it to touch the corporal, or cloth that covered the consecrated elements.