corporal punishment


noun

Law. physical punishment, as flogging, inflicted on the body of one convicted of a crime: formerly included the death penalty, sentencing to a term of years, etc.
physical punishment, as spanking, inflicted on a child by an adult in authority.

Origin of corporal punishment

First recorded in 1575–85

British Dictionary definitions for corporal punishment

corporal punishment

noun

punishment of a physical nature, such as caning, flogging, or beating