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Entry 12 senses · 7 variants Webster, 1913

Kern

/(kẽrn)/ · IPA /kɝn/
01 n. A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from gallowglass, and often used as a term of c…
  1. 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.
    “Now for our Irish wars; We must supplant those rough, rug-headed kerns.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    Any kind of boor or low-lived person.[Obs.]
  3. 3.
    An idler; a vagabond.(O. Eng. Law)
02 n. A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank, such as in certain italic letters.
  1. 1.
    A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank, such as in certain italic letters.(Type Founding)
03 v. t. To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.
imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerning
  1. 1.
    To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.(Type Founding) See: Kern
04 n. A churn.
  1. 1.
    A churn.[Prov. Eng.]
05 n. A hand mill. See Quern.
  1. 1.
    A hand mill. See Quern. See: Quern
06 v. i. To harden, as corn in ripening.
  1. 1.
    To harden, as corn in ripening.[Obs.]
  2. 2.
    To take the form of kernels; to granulate.[Obs.]
    “It is observed that rain makes the salt kern.” — Dampier.
07 n. Kernel; corn; grain.
  1. 1.
    Kernel; corn; grain.[Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
  2. 2.
    The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest.
  3. 3.
    The harvest-home.