Category:Kern

Kern, n. Etym: [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. Shak.

2. Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] Blount.

3. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: An idler; a vagabond. Wharton.

kern Kern, n. (Type Founding)

Defn: A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank.

kern Kern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Kerning. ] (Type Founding)

Defn: To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.

kern Kern, n. Etym: [See Churn. ]

Defn: A churn. [Prov. Eng.]

kern Kern, n. Etym: [AS. cweorn, cwyrn. See Quern. ]

Defn: A hand mill. See Quern. Johnson.

kern Kern, v. i. Etym: [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.