Corps n. sing. & pl.
 1. The human body, whether living or dead. [Obs.] See Corpse, 1.
    By what craft in my corps, it cometh [commences] and where.   --Piers Plowman.
 2. A body of men; esp., an organized division of the military establishment; as, the marine corps; the corps of topographical engineers; specifically, an army corps.
    A corps operating with an army should consist of three divisions of the line, a brigade of artillery, and a regiment of cavalry.   --Gen. Upton (U. S. Tactics. )
 3. A body or code of laws. [Obs.]
    The whole corps of the law.   --Bacon.
 4. Eccl. The land with which a prebend or other ecclesiastical office is endowed. [Obs.]
    The prebendaries over and above their reserved rents have a corps.   --Bacon.
 5.  In some countries of Europe, a form of students' social society binding the members to strict adherence to certain student customs and its code of honor; -- Ger. spelling usually korps.
 Army corps, or (French) Corps d'armée , a body containing two or more divisions of a large army, organized as a complete army in itself.
 Corps de logis [F., body of the house], the principal mass of a building, considered apart from its wings.
 Corps diplomatique [F., diplomatic body], the body of ministers or envoys accredited to a government.

 ◄ ►


 corps diplomatique
      n : the body of diplomatic personnel [syn: diplomatic service,
           diplomatic corps]