CORPORALn.
[L., head.]
1. The lowest officer of a company of infantry, next below a sergeant. He has charge over one of the divisions, places and relieves sentinels, etc.
2. The corporal of a ship of war, is an officer under the master at arms, employed to teach the sailors the use of small arms; to attend at the gangways or entering ports, and see that no spirituous liquors are brought, except by permission; to extinguish fire and candles, etc.
CORPORALa.
[L., body.]
1. Belonging or relating to the body; as corporal pain, opposed to mental.
2. Material; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]
CORPORAL
CORPORALE, n. A fine linen cloth, used to cover the sacred elements in the eucharist or in which the sacrament is put.
Corporal oath, a solemn oath, so called from the ancient usage of touching the corporale, or cloth that covered the consecrated elements.