Corpse (kôrps), n. [OF. cors (sometimes written corps), F. corps, L. corpus; akin to AS. hrif womb. See Midriff, and cf. Corse, Corselet,
Corps, Cuerpo.]
1. A human body
in general, whether living or dead; -- sometimes contemptuously. [Obs.]
&fist; Formerly written (after the French form) corps. See Corps, n., 1.
2. The dead body
of a human being; -- used also Fig.
He
touched the dead corpse of Public Credit, and it sprung
upon its feet.
D. Webster.
Corpse candle. (a) A thick candle formerly used at a lich wake, or the customary watching with a corpse on the night before its interment. (b)
A luminous appearance, resembling the flame of a candle, sometimes seen in churchyards and other damp places, superstitiously regarded as portending death. -- Corpse gate, the gate of a burial place through which the dead are carried, often having a covered porch; -- called also lich gate.
Hear it pronounced