Eccl. Forms: 3 corporeal, 4–5 corporalle, (5 -erale), 6–7 -all, 6– -al. [ad. med.L. corporālis (palla), corporāle (pallium), in F. corporal, f. L. corpus body.]
† 1. An ancient eucharistic vestment. Obs.
a. 1000. Canons Edgar, in Thorpe, Laws, II. 250. We lærað þat ælc preost hæbbe corporalem þonne he mæssiʓe.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 162 (transl. of prec.). That every Priest celebrating Mass, hath his Corporal.
2. A cloth, usually of linen, upon which the consecrated elements are placed during the celebration of the mass, and with which the elements, or the remnants of them, are covered after the celebration. Called also corporal-cloth.
1381. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 233. A ‘palyoun’ of cloth of gold; two ‘corporalles.’
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 93. Corporasse or corporalle, corporale.
1488. in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl., I. 85. In ane vthir gardeviant:—In the fyrst, a lamp of siluer, a corporale with a cais.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cc. 237. This squier had with hym the patent and corporal.
1637. Bk. Com. Prayer, Church Scot., Communion Rubric, He that celebrates shall … cover with a fair linen cloth, or corporal, that which remaineth of the consecrated elements.
1641. I. H., Petit. agst Pocklington, 3. He hath caused two cloathes to be made, which he cals Corporals, and these he useth to lay over the Bread in the Sacrament.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 64. They made use of Veils also … which were made of Lawn, as the Corporal was, afterwards of Silk.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, I. i. 38. Anciently, the Corporal-cloths were so large as to overspread the whole altar.
1888. Times, 22 June, 13/3. Concerned in stealing a silk veil, two linen corporals, a silver cross, and other articles from St. Peter’s Church.
b. Corporal-case: a case for the corporal.
[Cf. 1488 in prec.]
1559. Inv., in Reg. Episc. Aberd. (Spalding Club), I. App. 90. Item a corporal case with a cover of cloath of gold.
