Corporaal, noun

Forms:
Also Korporaal.
Origin:
Dutch, AfrikaansShow more Dutch (later Afrikaans) korporaal corporal.
Among the Khoikhoi: a title given to a headman or other leader.
1821 G. Barker Journal. 10 MayCould not hold school to day, on account of a complaint in hand among the Corporaals.
[1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 516Our expectation of having Hendrik Abra with us, had been counteracted by an order from the Klaarwater captain, appointing him to the duty of superintendant, or, as they call it, corporal, of one of the out-posts.]
1823 G. Barker Journal. 6 Jan.Was busy all day with the temporal affairs of the Station, electing new Corporaals &c.
1975 Sunday Times 12 Oct. (Mag. Sect.) 3On arrival at the shack I met the headman or Korporaal, as he is called by the Koebus Nama Hottentots.
a title given to a headman or other leader.
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18211975