Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. milit.) corporal.

1912		C. McKay ‘A Recruit on the Corpy’ Constab Ballads 50: Me an’ de corpy drink we rum.
1917		L.A. Times 22 Apr. III 22: Even the noncoms have special names. The first sergeant is always the ‘top’. Any sergeant is a ‘sarge’ and any corporal a ‘corp’.
1920		Bulletin (Sydney) 19 Feb. 15/3: The corp looked at him [...] as if grieving over a spoilt child.
1922		‘J.H. Ross’ Mint (1955) 72: ‘Shift the pig-shit into the lorry.’ ‘Want to make yourself a nice bed, Corp?’.
1932		(con. WWI) L. Mann Flesh in Armour 87: ‘Helping the barrage, corp’ cried Ted Marshall’.
1938		F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 84: Look here, corp.
1941		A. Gurney Bluey & Curley 26 Feb. [synd. cartoon strip] Good night corp!! Sarge to you with them stripes!!
1942		J. MacLaren-Ross ‘Y List’ in Memoirs of the Forties (1984) 151: ‘Hullo Corp,’ he said. I couldn’t hear what Corporal Evans said.
1942		‘Marienne’ ‘Solid Meddlin’ in People’s Voice (NY) 7 Mar. 33/1: Heppin’ wide-eyed glammah gals to the dif’ between a second lewy and a cropy.
1951		Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 8: This is a lift, Corp, not a kite.
1963		C. Wood ‘Prisoner and Escort’ in Cockade (1965) I ii: hoskinson: Yes – but you have one of mine corp. blake: In full – corporal in full ’Oskie my old.
1972		(con. 1930s–40s) N. Conway Bloods 5: Where we goin’ Corp?
1983		S. Gee Never in My Lifetime in Best Radio Plays (1984) 68: I should have made corp, I was next in line.