Mil. [a. 16th c. F. corporal, var. of capporal, caporal (Littré), ad. It. caporale (Sp. caporal).
Diez and others take caporale as the original form, as a derivative of capo head; but this leaves the -or- unaccounted for. On the other hand, the corporal form is of considerable antiquity: Du Cange quotes from a letter of 1405, ‘capitaneus, et ut ipsi [Venetians] vocant, corporalis.’ This favors a derivation from It. corpo, L. corpor- body (i.e., of troops), with subsequent contamination by capo.]
1. A non-commissioned military officer ranking under a sergeant.
‘He has charge of one of the squads of the company, places and relieves sentries, and keeps good order in the guard’ (Stocqueler). Corporal’s guard: a small armed detachment such as is placed under the command of a corporal. Hence fig. a small body of followers or supporters.
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 84. The Corporal is a degree in dignitie above the private souldior.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, 248. The word Caporall, which is a meere Italian, and also vsed by the French, we corruptly do both write and pronounce Corporall.
1642. Declar. Lords & Com. For Raising Forces, 22 Dec., 7. That each Company of Dragooners have an experienced Souldier to be a Corporall.
c. 1645. T. Tully, Siege Carlisle (1840), 35. Philipson … sent a corporal with 20 horse.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 164, ¶ 6. An old Soldier in the Civil Wars, who was Corporal of a Company in a Regiment of Foot.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., VI. 326. I, who command the largest British army that has been employed … have not the power of making even a corporal.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, vii. The key of the store-room, was under the charge of one of the corporals of marines.
1868. Regul. & Ord. Army, ¶ 312. When Non-commissioned Officers are required to assist the Officers, Corporals may be appointed to act as Serjeants.
1888. Times, 26 June, 4/4. Mr. Gregor M’Laren, Corporal of Horse, Royal Horse Guards … writes to correct the statement.
† 2. Corporal of the field: a superior officer of the army in the 16th and 17th c., who acted as an assistant or a kind of aide-de-camp to the sergeant-major: see quot. 1622. Obs.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, IV. ix. 153–5. The next great Officers … are the Foure Corporals of the Field, who haue their dependance only vpon the Serieant-Maior and are called his Coadiutors or assistants … who for their election ought to bee Gentlemen of great Dexteritie … such as haue at least been Captaines in other times…. It is meet that all these foure Corporals of the Field bee exceeding well mounted.
1591. Garrard, Art Warre, 156. Office and duetie of the foure Corporals of the field.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., xxi. (1821), 415. Sent a Corporall of the field, to cause the like to be done in the Earle of Thomonds quarter.
3. Naut. † a. Formerly, a petty officer on board ship, part of whose duty consisted in teaching the sailors the use of small arms: see quot. 1626. b. ‘The ship’s corporal of the present day is the superior of the first-class working petty officers, and solely attends to police matters under the master-at-arms or superintendent-in-chief’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk.).
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 4. The Corporall is to see the setting and releeuing the watch, and see all the souldiers and saylors keepe their Armes cleane, neate and yare, and teach them their vse.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xi. 46. The Gunners at Sea did not exercise the Seamen in this knowledge, as the Corporal doth in Mustering of them with their musquets.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4440/1. The Midshipmen … Corporals, Yeomen of the Sheets … one Eighth Part.
1891. Times, 30 Sept., 4/6. A ship’s corporal on duty in the Britannia.
