kern

8 definitions found

kern - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Kern \Kern\, n. [Written also kirn.] [Cf. D. & G. kern kernal,
     E. kern to harden, kernel.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
     1. Kernel; corn; grain.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     2. The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     3. The harvest-home.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  Kern \Kern\ (k[~e]rn), n. [Ir. ceatharnach.Cf. Cateran. ]
     1. A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of
        Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from gallowglass,
        and often used as a term of contempt. --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Now for our Irish wars;
              We must supplant those rough, rug-headed kerns.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] --Blount.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (O. Eng. Law) An idler; a vagabond. --Wharton.
        [1913 Webster]

  Kern \Kern\, n. (Type Founding)
     A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body,
     or shank, such as in certain italic letters.
     [1913 Webster]

  Kern \Kern\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n.
     Kerning. ] (Type Founding)
     To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.
     [1913 Webster]

  Kern \Kern\, n. [See Churn. ]
     A churn. [Prov. Eng.]
     [1913 Webster]

  Kern \Kern\, n. [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ]
     A hand mill. See Quern. --Johnson.
     [1913 Webster]

  Kern \Kern\, v. i. [Cf. G. kern kernel, grain; akin to E. corn.
     See Corn, Kernel. ]
     1. To harden, as corn in ripening. [Obs.] --Carew.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To take the form of kernels; to granulate. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It is observed that rain makes the salt kern.
                                                    --Dampier.
        [1913 Webster]

kern - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Kern
      n 1: United States composer of musical comedies (1885-1945)
           [syn: Kern, Jerome Kern, Jerome David Kern]
      2: the part of a metal typeface that projects beyond its body
      v 1: furnish with a kern [ant: kern]
      2: remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters) [ant:
         kern]