Does the word "corporal" has the same meaning as "physical"?

Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Yes, in this case, "corporal punishment" does mean physical punishment. It is used to describe the physical punishment (hitting, caning, flogging, etc.) of minors at school or at home. Of course, this type of school punishment is banned in many countries today, including Europe, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Kenya. The corporal punishment of minors at home is also banned in many countries, but it is still legal in many places as well. Ex: In Canada, the corporal punishment of students at school is illegal. Ex: Many educators and psychologists highly discourage the use of corporal punishment on minors.