The lowest officer of a company of infantry, next below a sergeant. He has charge over one of the divisions, places and relieves sentinels.

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.

Belonging or relating to the body; as corporal pain, opposed to mental.

Material; not spiritual.

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.