connected with or used for punishment, especially by law 惩罚的；刑罚的 that can be punished by law 应受刑罚的 a penal offence 刑事犯罪
very severe 严重的；严厉的 penal rates of interest 很重的利率
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French penal, from Latin poenalis, from poena ‘pain, penalty’.