kern1

[kurn] /kɜrn/
noun
1.
a part of the face of a type projecting beyond the body or shank, as in certain italic letters.
verb (used with object)
2.
to form or furnish with a kern, as a type or letter.
3.
to remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters) in preparation for printing.
Origin
1675-85; < French carne corner of type ≪ Latin cardin- (stem of cardō) hinge

kern2

[kurn] /kɜrn/
noun, Engineering
1.
the central area of any horizontal section of a wall, column, etc., within which the resultant forces of all compressive loads must pass if there is to be only compression at that point.
Origin
< German Kern kernel; see kern4

kern3

[kurn] /kɜrn/
noun, Archaic.
1.
a band of lightly armed foot soldiers of ancient Ireland.
2.
(in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands) a soldier.
3.
an Irish peasant, especially a crude or boorish one.
Also, kerne.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English kerne < Irish ceithern band of foot soldiers; cf. cateran

kern4

[kurn] /kɜrn/
verb (used without object)
1.
(of a tree or plant) to produce or form kernels, hard grain, or seed.
verb (used with object)
2.
to cause to granulate, especially to granulate salt.
3.
to cover with crystalline grains of salt; salt (meat).
noun
4.
Obsolete. a kernel, as of a nut; a grain, as of sand or wheat.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English kirnen, kerne (v.); akin to kirnelen to develop into seed; see kernel

kern5

[kurn] /kɜrn/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), noun, Scot. and North England
1.
churn.

kern6

[kurn] /kɜrn/
noun, Scot. and North England
1.
kirn2 .

Kern

[kurn] /kɜrn/
noun
1.
Jerome (David) 1885–1945, U.S. composer.
2.
a river in E California, in the Sierra Nevada, flowing S and SW to San Joaquin Valley. 155 miles (249 km) long.
Examples from the web for kern
  • Drilling operations are concentrated primarily in kern county and the los angeles basin.
  • To the east, and the kern river, across from oildale, to the north.
  • kern city kern city is located in southwest bakersfield across from west high school.
  • Old town kern is located primarily around baker street, near the former town of sumner.
  • The kern county soccer park is the largest soccer facility in california.
British Dictionary definitions for kern

kern1

/kɜːn/
noun
1.
the part of the character on a piece of printer's type that projects beyond the body
verb
2.
(transitive) to furnish (a typeface) with a kern
Word Origin
C17: from French carne corner of type, projecting angle, ultimately from Latin cardō hinge

kern2

/kɜːn/
noun
1.
a lightly armed foot soldier in medieval Ireland or Scotland
2.
a troop of such soldiers
3.
(archaic) a loutish peasant
Word Origin
C14: from Middle Irish cethern band of foot soldiers, from cath battle

kern3

/kɜːn/
noun
1.
(engineering) the central area of a wall, column, etc, through which all compressive forces pass
Word Origin
from German Kern core, heart

Kern

/kɜːn/
noun
1.
Jerome (David). 1885–1945, US composer of musical comedies, esp Show Boat (1927)
Word Origin and History for kern
n.

1680s, "part of a metal type projecting beyond the body," as the head of an -f- or the tail of a -j-, from French carne "projecting angle, quill of a pen," from Latin cardinem "hinge."