- corporal (n.)
- 1570s, from M.Fr. corporal, from It. caporale "a corporal," from capo "chief, head," from L. caput "head" (see head). So called because he was in charge of a body of troops. Perhaps infl. by It. corpo, from L. corps "body." Or corps may be the source and caput the influence, as the OED suggests. Corporal punishment "punishment of the body" (as opposed to fine or loss of rank or privilege) is from 1580s.
- corporal (adj.)
- "of or belonging to the body," late 14c., from O.Fr. corporal, from L. corporalis, from corpus (gen. corporis) "body" (see corps). Corporal punishment (1580s) is that inflicted on the body as opposed to fines or loss of rank.
- orderly (adv.)
- 1477, "in due order," from order (q.v.). As a noun meaning "military attendant who carries orders" it is first attested 1781 (short for orderly corporal, etc.). Extended 1809 to an attendant at a hospital (originally a military hospital) charged with keeping things in order and clean.
- incorporeal
- 1532, from L. incorporeus "without body," from in- "not" + corpus (gen. corporis) "body" (see corporal).
- lance
- late 13c., from O.Fr. lance, from L. lancea "light spear" (It. lancia, Sp. lanza, Ger. Lanze), possibly of Celt-Iberian origin. The verb meaning "to pierce with a lance" is from c.1300; the surgical sense (properly with ref. to a lancet) is from late 15c. Lance corporal (1786) is from obsolete lancepesade "officer of lowest rank" (1570s), from O.It. lancia spezzata "old soldier," lit. "broken lance."