caporal

corporal (military rank)

noun kah-poh-RAL Rare

Origin: Italian caporale, from capo (head)

Usage Note

Caporal is the lowest non-commissioned officer rank in the French army, equivalent to a corporal. In informal speech, caporal also refers to a type of rough French pipe tobacco. The plural is caporaux, following the standard -al/-aux pattern of French nouns.

Examples

"Le caporal a transmis les ordres aux soldats."

Natural Translation

The corporal relayed the orders to the soldiers.

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