CORPORAL. I. An adjective used in such expressions as "cor poral punishment" (see FLOGGING), "corporal works of mercy," acts of bodily kindness, such as feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, rescuing captives (Lat. corporalis, to the body). A "cor poral oath" (one ratified by touching a sacred object, see OATH).
2. (Lat. corporale or palla corporalis), in the Roman Catholic Church, a small square linen cloth, on which the chalice and paten are placed on the altar at mass.
3. (Of uncertain derivation; the French form caporal, and Ital. caporale, point to an origin from capo, Italian for head; the New English Dictionary, however, favours the derivation from Lat. corpus, Ital. corpo, body), a non-commissioned officer of in fantry, cavalry and artillery, ranking below a sergeant. This rank is almost universal in armies. In the i6th and i7th centuries there were corporals but no sergeants in the cavalry, and this custom is preserved in the three regiments of British household cavalry, the rank of sergeant being replaced by that of "corporal of horse," and that of sergeant-major by "corporal-major." In the i6th and early i7th centuries the title "corporal of the field" was often given to a superior officer who acted as a staff-officer to the sergeant major-general. In the British navy a "ship's corporal" was for merly a semi-military instructor to the crew, but later became a petty officer charged with assisting the master-at-arms in police duties on board ship. The rating of Regulating Petty Officer has now superseded that of Ship's Corporal.
In the combat organizations of the United States Army the Corporal is the leader of the squad (Infantry and Cavalry) which operates in battle as a combat group. He is the gunner of the gun squad (Artillery) which operates the piece. He is responsible for the training and equipment of his unit and is ap pointed by the regimental commander who signs the warrant. The insignia of rank of the Corporal is a chevron of two stripes worn on the sleeves of the uniform.