CORPORAL, noun [Latin , 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. CORPORAL, adjective [Latin , body.] 1. Belonging or relating to the body; as corporal pain, opposed to mental. 2. Material; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI