corporal• This was World War 1, and he was a corporal or a sergeant.• a corporal in the 9th Virginia Regiment• Sergeants and corporalsoutnumberprivatesoldiers.• Although, if you take a sergeant-major or some corporals even - it's the nature of the man.• Smith and Petrossian, the corporals, were checkingkit, pushing among the reluctant men.• The corporal called out our registration number.• There follow three corporals, and two drummers, Kelley and Nicholson.• There were six or seven Met Waafs, including a sergeant and two corporals, and the rest were LACWs like me.
Origincorporal
(1500-1600)Frenchcaporal, from Old Italiancaporale, from capo“head”