corporal punishment

corporal punishment
    n 1: the infliction of physical injury on someone convicted of
         committing a crime
    

Corporal \Cor"po*ral\, a. [L. corporalis, fr. corpus body. See
   {Corpse}.]
   1. Belonging or relating to the body; bodily. "Past corporal
      toil." --Shak.
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            Pillories and other corporal infections. --Milton.
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   {Corporal punishment} (law), punishment applied to the body
      of the offender, including the death penalty, whipping,
      and imprisonment.
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   2. Having a body or substance; not spiritual; material. In
      this sense now usually written corporeal. --Milton.
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            A corporal heaven . . . .where the stare are.
                                                  --Latimer.
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            What seemed corporal melted
            As breath into the wind.              --Shak.

   Syn: {Corporal}, {Bodily}, {Corporeal}.

   Usage: Bodily is opposed to mental; as, bodily affections.
          Corporeal refers to the whole physical structure or
          nature, of the body; as, corporeal substance or frame.
          Corporal, as now used, refers more to punishment or
          some infliction; as, corporal punishment. To speak of
          corporeal punishment is an error. Bodily austerities;
          the corporeal mold.
          [1913 Webster] Corporal
    

30 Moby Thesaurus words for "corporal punishment":
      bastinado, basting, battery, beating, belting, buffeting, caning,
      clubbing, cowhiding, cudgeling, drubbing, flagellation, flailing,
      flogging, fustigation, horsewhipping, lacing, lashing,
      pistol-whipping, rawhiding, scourging, spanking, strapping,
      stripes, swingeing, switching, thrashing, trouncing, truncheoning,
      whipping