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Webster 1913 Edition

Kern

Kern

(kẽrn)
,
Noun.
[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.
Now for our Irish wars;
We must supplant those rough, rug-headed
kerns
.
Shakespeare
2.
Any kind of boor or low-lived person.
[Obs.]
Blount.
3.
(O. Eng. Law)
An idler; a vagabond.
Wharton.

Kern

,
Noun.
(Type Founding)
A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank, such as in certain italic letters.

Kern

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Kerned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Kerning
. ]
(Type Founding)
To form with a kern. See 2d
Kern
.

Kern

,
Noun.
[See
Churn
. ]
A churn.
[Prov. Eng.]

Kern

,
Noun.
[AS.
cweorn
,
cwyrn
. See
Quern
. ]
A hand mill. See
Quern
.
Johnson.

Kern

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

Webster 1828 Edition

Kern

KERN

,
Noun.
An Irish footman or foot-soldier.
1.
In English laws, an idle person or vagabond.

KERN

,
Noun.
A hand-mill consisting of two stones, one of which is turned by the hand; usually written quern, which see.
1.
A churn.

KERN

, v.i.
1.
To harden, as corn in ripening.
2.
To take the form of corns; to granulate.

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